By Lamont Burroughs
1 24 2025
PDF GAMEBOOK
https://ohiobobcats.com/documents/2025/1/24/Ohio61-KSU59.PDF
FOLLOW OHIO MEN’S BASKETBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men’s basketball team (11-8, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) defeated Kent State (12-7, 3-4 MAC) 61-59 in The Convo on Friday night (Jan. 24) while celebrating Turn it Gold.
“Our guys bent, they didn’t break and found a way to win the game,” head coach Jeff Boals said.
Overall, Ohio shot 38 percent from the field, 28 percent from three-point range and was 22-of-28 from the line. Kent State shot 35 percent from the field, 16 percent from beyond the arc and was 14-of-25 from the line. Kent State outrebounded Ohio 46-28, while Ohio recorded 12 steals.
Individually, redshirt sophomore guard AJ Brown (Orlando, Fla.) led Ohio with 15 points and four steals, going 4-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. Junior guard Jackson Paveletzke (Kimberly, Wis.) also scored 15 points, going 5-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line, while graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell (Omaha, Neb.) added 11 points and four rebounds. Graduate student forward Vic Searls (Hilliard, Ohio) also added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.
“I was really messing the ball well from three early in the year, but just sticking to my work, sticking to my daily habits and trusting that in the game,” Paveletzke said. “When it came to me, I didn’t second think anything. I just shot it with confidence and results showed.”
Neither team knocked in a field goal for the first two and a half minutes of the game. A steal by Brown allowed Paveletzke to get the first basket for Ohio in the paint.
Out of the first timeout, both teams traded baskets and kept the score within one point for over two minutes. Kent State got ahead with a three-pointer and an assisted layup. It continued to get ahead, but with two 3-pointers from Brown along with a driving layup from junior guard Ajay Sheldon (Dublin, Ohio) brought Ohio close to its opponent on the scoreboard. An intense defensive play by the Bobcats with a steal and assisted layup on a fastbreak brought the score deficit to two, forcing Kent State to call a timeout.
Kent State ended the first half with a buzzer-beater basket to lead 29-28 going into the locker room.
The second half began with a basket from Ohio and two free throws from Kent State, After trading baskets, the score fell tied at 38-38 going into the first media timeout of the half. The Golden Flashes got ahead by a basket and the Bobcats entered a scoring drought over three minutes. Mitchell broke the scoring drought for Ohio with a crisp shot from behind the arc and later two free throws.
With three minutes left on the clock, Kent State stumbled ino another short lead against Ohio. Mitchell’s 2-for-2 performance at the line and a three-pointer by Paveletzke gave Ohio the lead once more, forcing Kent State to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Kent sank a free throw and was down by one, but Ohio regained possession. Paveletzke drew a foul and added two free throws to keep Ohio ahead. With less than a minute left on the clock, Ohio blocked shots on the other end of the court to keep the game in hand.
“Toward the end, we made the big plays to win the game, and I think at the end of the day, that’s what matters the most, what happens at the end of the game,” Brown said.
Kent State regained possession with 44 seconds remaining and drew a foul from behind the arc. However, they only capitalized 1-of-3 free throws, keeping Ohio’s lead at two. With 13 seconds left on the clock, Kent used its final timeout of the night after a turnover by Ohio and only down by two points. Ohio held Kent from scoring, regained possession and sealed the victory.
Up next, Ohio will take on Toledo at home in the Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2.
#OUohyeah
COURTESY OHIO ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
