By Lamont Burroughs
1 24 2025
OHIO GAME NOTES
https://ohiobobcats.com/documents/2025/1/23/012425_Ohio_KentSt_Notes.pdf
KENT STATE GAME NOTES
https://ohiobobcats.com/documents/2025/1/23/KSUMBB_24-25_Game_19_vs._Ohio_Notes.pdf
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ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio men’s basketball team (10-8, 4-2 MAC) are back in Athens on Friday, Jan. 24 when the Bobcats host Kent State (12-6, 3-3 MAC). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The game can be seen on ESPNU where Eric Rothman and Noah Savage 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 158th all-time meeting between Ohio and Kent State.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 99-58.
• Ohio is 14-19 against Kent State since 2009-10, while the Bobcats are 5-6 against the Flashes under Jeff Boals.
• The Bobcats and Kent State met twice last season, with Ohio winning both matchups.
• The Bobcats won the first at Kent State, 71-64 on Jan. 26 before taking the second game in Athens, 63-57, on Feb. 20.
• Ohio has registered an impressive 573-182 (.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 7-0 in the Convo.
• Ohio is 68-14 in the Convo under Boals in the last six seasons.
• Junior guard Jackson Paveletzke scored a career-high 28 points at EMU on Jan. 21.
• Graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell, in his first start since Nov. 9, scored a career-high 27 points on Jan. 17 at Akron.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State enters the matchup against Ohio with a 12-6 record and a 3-3 mark in MAC play after defeating Toledo on Tuesday.
Kent State averages 70.3 points a game, while shooting .416 from the field, .286 from three and .747 from the line, while opponents are averaging 64.7 points per game, while shooting .415 from the field, .308 from three and .727 from the line.
Kent State averages 35.9 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 7.6 steals and 3.3 blocks a game, while forcing 14.2 turnovers a game. Meanwhile, Kent State opponents average 32.8 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 5.7 steals and 2.8 blocks a game, while forcing the Flashes to turn the ball over an average of 10.9 times a contest.
Individually, VonCameron Davis leads Kent State with 15.6 points a game, while shooting .442 and averaging 4.1 rebounds a game. Jalen Sullinger adds 12.0 points a game, while shooting .384 from the field and .330 from three, while Morgan Safford adds 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds a game.
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio is currently 10-8 overall and 4-2 in MAC play after falling to Eastern Michigan on the road Tuesday night.
Ohio is averaging 81.4 points per game, while shooting .477 from the field, .356 from three and .748 from the line, while opponents are averaging 75.9 points per game, while shooting .455 from the field, .396 from three and .678 from the line.
Ohio is averaging 34.6 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 3.6 blocks and 7.6 steals per game, while forcing 13.6 turnovers a contest. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 34.9 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 2.9 blocks and 6.9 steals per game, while forcing Ohio to turn the ball over 13.6 times a game.
Individually, AJ Clayton leads Ohio with 15.5 points a game. He also adds 5.9 rebounds, while shooting .485 from the field and .388 from three. AJ Brown averages 11.7 points a game, while shooting .469 from the field, .400 from three and .870 from the line, while Jackson Paveletzke adds 12.7 points, 5.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Shereef Mitchell adds 10.8 points, while shooting .512 from the field.
ALL TIME VS. KENT STATE
This is the 158th all-time meeting between Ohio and Kent State.
Ohio leads the all-time series, 99-58.
Ohio is 14-19 against Kent State since 2009-10, while the Bobcats are 5-6 against the Flashes under Jeff Boals.
The Bobcats and Kent State met twice last season, with Ohio winning both matchups.
The Bobcats won the first at Kent State, 71-64 on Jan. 26 before taking the second game in Athens, 63-57, on Feb. 20.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 573-182 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
Ohio finished 14-2 in the Convo last season.
Ohio is 68-14 in the Convo under Boals in the last six seasons.
Ohio is currently 7-0 in the Convo this season.
OHIO IN NET
The Bobcats currently rank 166th in the Jan. 23 NET Rankings.
Ohio is the third-highest MAC team behind Kent State, Akron, and Miami.
OHIO IN NCAA
Currently Ohio ranks 89th in the nation in forced turnovers per game. The Bobcats are also 12th in fastbreak points, 53rd in field goal percentage and 87th in assists per game.
Ohio also ranks 52nd in effective field goal percentage, 41st in scoring offense and 74th in three-pointers per game.
Ohio also ranks 97th in assist/TO ratio and 90th in turnover margin.
Meanwhile, Jackson Paveletzke ranks 41st in assists per game, 48th in assists and 96th in double doubles.
AJ Clayton is 39th in blocks per game, 38th in total blocks, 100th in threes per game and 77th in three-point percentage.
AJ Brown ranks 55th in free throws percentage.
BOBCATS IN THE MAC
Individually, AJ Clayton ranks seventh in the MAC in scoring, eighth in rebounding and first in blocked shots.
Jackson Paveletzke is second in assists and third in assist/turnover ratio.
AJ Brown ranks third in field goal percentage.
UP NEXT
Ohio men’s basketball is back in Athens on Tuesday, Jan. 28 when Ohio takes on Toledo. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2.
#OUohyeah
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