Ohio uses second-half rally to top EKU

Wendy Haun

A very difficult defensive matchup and some breakdowns led to a Colonel loss on the road Saturday in Athens, Ohio.

Ohio University went on a late run to finish the first half only down, 24-23, and outscored EKU 51-38 in the second half to clinch the 74-62 win in a rematch of last year’s ESPN BracketBuster game.

“This game was lost at the defensive end and we did not do a good job at that in the second half,” Eastern Kentucky University coach Jeff Neubauer said. “We did defend them well for the first 18 minutes of the first half. We had some defensive breakdowns.”

The Colonels (7-4) only shot 33.3 percent in the first half and made just one three-pointer. They shot 52 percent in the second half, but hit just six three-pointers for the game, one more than their season-low of shots from beyond the arc.

“Ohio is a very good defensive team,” Neubauer said. “Right now, they are one of the best teams in the MAC. Our defense was just not as good in the second half.”

Ohio (7-3) shot 57.1 percent for the game, including 57.1 percent in the second half. The Bobcats hit seven shots from beyond the arc in the second half.

The loss was the first against a Mid-American Conference team in Neubauer’s tenure at EKU. Josh Taylor led all scorers with 18 points. Justin Stommes added 17 points for EKU (7-4), but also turned the ball over a season-high seven times. The Colonels committed 15 turnovers, nine of which were forced by Ohio.

“We had some uncharacteristic turnovers, some of which were forced by Ohio and some of which were not forced,” Neubauer said. “It will be important as we go forward that we will have a greater value for the ball.”

Tommy Freeman and Steven Coleman led Ohio with 16 points apiece. Freeman scored all of his points in the second half, including four three-pointers. Meanwhile, point guard D.J. Cooper recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 assists.

The Colonels led the entire first half. Ohio came back to tie the game twice before intermission, but could never gain the lead.

Ohio finally went ahead with 15:13 left in the game after a Coleman jumper made the score 33-31. After missing their first 16 three-point attempts, the Bobcats heated up by netting five of the next six three-pointers to turn a 36-35 deficit into a 54-42 lead.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Freeman later in the half gave the Bobcats their biggest lead of the game, 61-46, with 5:41 showing on the clock.

“We’ve had quite a big of success against the MAC,” Neubauer said. “They have good players and they’re a very good conference. To be playing against Ohio on their home court...they’re very good at home.”

EKU made one final charge, capped by a Stommes three-pointer, to close the gap to eight points with 3:55 left, 63-55. However, the Colonels would get no closer the rest of the way.

The Colonels will be back in action following the holiday break in the 2009 Dr Pepper Classic on Dec. 29-30. The Colonels first take on Morgan State on Dec. 29, beginning at 6 p.m. at the University of Chattanooga.

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