By Malcolm Price
OHIO NOTES
https://ohiobobcats.com/documents/2024/12/28/123024_Ohio_Muskingum_Notes.pdf
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ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio men’s basketball team (5-6) wraps up 2024 and the non conference slate on Monday, Dec. 30 when the Bobcats host Muskingum (5-5). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The game can be seen on ESPN+ where Sam Hyman and Bob Boldon will have the call.
The Bobcats’ matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Jason Toy begins his first season on the mic for the Bobcats, and will be joined by Ohio alum Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broad- casts for two decades. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station net- work’s flagship.
STORYLINES
• This is the 37th all-time meeting between Ohio and Muskingum
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 26-10.
• Ohio and Muskingum last met on Dec. 1, 1971, with Ohio winning, 76-66 in the Convo.
• Ohio has registered an impressive 570-182 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
• Ohio finished 14-2 in the Convo last season.
• This season the Bobcats are 4-0 in the Convo.
• Ohio is 65-14 in the Convo under Boals in the last six seasons.
• Senior forward AJ Clayton is coming off a 22-point performance against Austin Peay on Dec. 18, going 5-of-6 from three and grabbing six rebounds.
• Junior guard Jackson Paveletzke is coming off an 18-point and 11 assist performance over Austin Peay on Dec. 18 in the Convo.
• Redshirt sophomore guard AJ Brown led Ohio with 22 points on Dec. 14 at Marshall.
• Junior guard Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio on Dec. 7 against Morehead State, scoring a season-high 23 points and grabbing a career-high eight rebounds in the victory.
• AJ Clayton is 49 points away from 1,000 in his career.
SCOUTING MUSKINGUM
Muskingum enters the matchup with the Bobcats with a 5-5 record after falling to Allegheny on Dec. 17 at home.
Muskingum averages 74.8 points a game, while shooting .455 from the field, .307 from three and .628 from the line, while opponents are averaging 82.7 points per game, while shooting .510 from the field, .281 from three and .655 from the line.
Muskingum averages 37.1 rebounds, 13.3 assists, 8.0 steals and 2.5 blocks a game, while forcing 13.7 turnovers a game. Meanwhile, Muskingum opponents average 41.3 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 9.3 steals and 3.3 blocks a game, while forcing Muskingum to turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times a contest.
Individually, Duane Davis averages 20.9 points a game, while shooting .528 from the field and averaging 7.3 rebounds per game. Owen Emig adds 11.0 points, while shooting .412 from the field and Luken Hill adds 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds a game.
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio is currently 5-6 overall after defeating Austin Peay, 78-58, on Dec. 18 in the Convocation Center.
Ohio is averaging 77.8 points per game, while shooting .450 from the field, .344 from three and .775 from the line, while opponents are averaging 77.6 points per game, while shooting .475 from the field, .435 from three and .673 from the line.
Ohio is averaging 33.0 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 3.2 blocks and 7.6 steals per game, while forcing 14.1 turnovers a contest. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 35.7 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 2.9 blocks and 7.0 steals per game, while forcing Ohio to turn the ball over 11.5 times a game.
Individually, AJ Clayton leads Ohio with 16.7 points a game. He also adds 6.5 rebounds, while shooting .471 from the field and .353 from three. AJ Brown averages 12.3 points a game, while shooting .468 from the field, .378 from three and .909 from the line, while, Aidan Hadaway averages 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. Jackson Paveletzke adds 12.3 points, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, while Elmore James averages 9.5 points and is shooting .410 from three.
ALL TIME VS. MUSKINGUM
This is the 37th all-time meeting between Ohio and Muskingum
Ohio leads the all-time series, 26-10.
Ohio and Muskingum last met on Dec. 1, 1971, with Ohio winning, 76-66 in the Convo.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 570-182 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
Ohio finished 14-2 in the Convo last season.
Ohio is 65-14 in the Convo under Boals in the last six seasons.
Ohio is currently 4-0 in the Convo this season.
RACE TO 1,000
Senior forward AJ Clayton is 49 points away from 1,000 in his career.
Clayton currently sits at 951.
BOALS GETS 100 AT OU
Head coach Jeff Boals earned his 100th win at Ohio on Nov. 22 against Portland.
Boals is the seventh Ohio head coach to make that mark and is five wins away from passing Danny Nee for the sixth-most wins at Ohio.
OHIO IN NET
The Bobcats currently rank 182 in the Dec. 28 NET Rankings.
Ohio is the fourth-highest MAC team behind Kent State, Akron, and Miami.
OHIO IN NCAA
Currently Ohio ranks 68th in the nation in turnover margin and 91st in forced turnovers per game. The Bobcats are also 30th in free throws percentage and 75th in fastbreak points.
Meanwhile, Jackson Paveletzke ranks 26th in assists per game and 40th in assists and double doubles.
AJ Clayton is 79th in blocks per game and 95th in threes per game.
AJ Brown is 31st in the nation in free throw percentage.
BOBCATS IN THE MAC
Individually, AJ Clayton ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring, fifth in rebounding and first in blocked shots.
Jackson Paveletzke is first in assists and second in assist/turnover ratio.
UP NEXT
Ohio men’s basketball begins 2025 and MAC play on Saturday, Jan. 4 when the Bobcats head to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to take on Central Michigan. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
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