Dec. 2, 2007

Box Score |  Notes

BROOKLYN, N.Y.-Sophomore center Kenneth van Kempen (Weert, Netherlands) and senior forward Leon Williams (Baltimore, Md.) tallied 14 points apiece to lead the Ohio men's basketball team to a 67-63 victory over St. Francis, N.Y. Sunday afternoon at Peter Aquilone Court. With the victory, the Bobcats improved to 3-2 overall, while the Terriers dropped to 3-4.

Ohio's win snapped a streak of seven consecutive non-conference road losses, giving the Bobcats their first victory in nearly two years (at Marist, Dec. 6, 2005).

The Bobcats jumped on the Terriers in the early-going, building an 11-point advantage (31-20) at the 3:17 mark on a pair of free throws by Williams to finish off a 17-4 Ohio run. Unfortunately, that initial lead would not stand up and the Terriers tied the contest just under three minutes into the second stanza.

After SFC's Robert Hines dropped in a shot at the 12:03 mark of the second half to put the Bobcats down 45-41, Ohio ripped off an 11-2 run over the next 3:32 to take a five-point advantage (52-47) on a turnaround jumper by Williams with 8:31 remaining.

The Bobcats pushed the advantage to as much as eight (61-53) on a 3-pointer by senior guard Bubba Walther (Cincinnati, Ohio) with 4:11 to go, but had to hang on down the stretch as Bobcat misses as the free throw line allowed Hines two looks at game-tying 3-pointers. However, both shots missed and were rebounded by Williams who clinched the contest with a free throw with just four seconds to play.

Walther also had 13 points for the Bobcats, while Williams and junior forward Jerome Tillman (Beavercreek, Ohio) had top rebounding honors with eight apiece. The Terriers held the team advantage on the glass (36-35), due in large part to a 15-8 edge on the offensive boards.

SFC's Marcus Williams and Bass Yessoufou led their squad with eight rebounds, while Ricky Cadell was the leading scorer with 19 points and four assists. Williams also posted five steals. Hines also had 17 points and was joined in double-digits by Kayode Ayeni who knocked down 11.

For the game, Ohio shot an even 50 percent (25-50), while the Terriers made 37.7 percent (23-61). The Bobcats made four of 12 attempts from long-range (33.3 percent) and forced SFC into just a 20.7 percent clip from deep (6-29). Ohio was 13-18 from the free throw line (13-18), while the Terriers went 11-19 (57.9 percent).

The Bobcats will head back home for a Wednesday evening affair with St. Bonaventure at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.