Ohio vs. Akron article

Just thought I would throw out my latest article for Parkersburg News. It's from last night's Ohio vs. Akron game. It was actually their first home loss of the year and consequently my first losing recap I had to write. Luckily, I still know how to do that from the last Ohio football season.


Bobcats lose first home game of year

NICK BROCKMAN, Special to The News

ATHENS, Ohio — Despite outstanding performances from seniors Leon Williams and Bubba Walther the Ohio Bobcats dropped their first home game of the season.

Williams and Walther combined to score 45 points, but neither could do enough to lift the ‘Cats past the Zips as Ohio lost 80-77 on Tuesday night.

Ohio coach Tim O’Shea said he was proud of the team’s effort, but Akron prevailed with greater execution.

“I thought we played well for a good portion of this game,” O’Shea said. “I thought we did a lot of really good things out there. (Akron) came in here. They made 3s, they played with great poise. We pushed them to the limit.”

The Bobcats trailed the entire second half, but made multiple runs to get within one possession.

“We made a couple runs at them, we just couldn’t get over the hump,” O’Shea said. “It was one of those games where you needed to tie it up, get the lead, and see if you could get a run going.”

Ohio’s final burst came during the last 1:30, led by Walther.Down 76-69 Walther nailed a 3-pointer, and then stole the ball from Akron’s Nick Dials on the ensuing Zips’ possession. Walther dribbled toward halfcourt before being fouled. Walther converted the pair of free throws to bring Ohio within two points with just 52.9 seconds remaining.

In the final 1:44 of the game Walther scored all of the Bobcats’ 10 points.

“I got open and got a lot of good looks,” Walther said. “I did know I had to step up, but it just wasn’t good enough.”

A layup by Jeremiah Wood and two free-throws by Dials extended the Akron lead to six points with just eight seconds left. Walther sank another 3-pointer to pull within three points. Ohio failed to steal the in-bounds and elected not to foul with less than two seconds left.

While Walther did much of his damage in the final minutes O’Shea and the Bobcats appeared determined to work the ball to Leon Williams in the post during the first half. Williams made good on each of his first-half opportunities.

Williams converted on all five of his field-goal attempts and knocked down 7-of-10 from the free throw line to score 17 points in the first half.

Akron coach Keith Dambrot said his team could not provide an answer to stop Williams.

“He was just throwing guys around like they were pieces of Swiss cheese,” Dambrot said. “He just man-handled us. He’s never beat us that bad ever. He pounded us today.”

Williams scored just six points in the second half due to foul trouble, leaving at the 12:00 mark with four fouls.

O’Shea said with Williams out of the game Ohio’s offense tapered.

“It was a huge factor for us because he had to sit a good portion of the second half and he was playing great,” O’Shea said. “That was huge for us, there’s no question about it.”

Ohio can still lock up a first-round bye to the Mid-American Conference Tournament if the Bobcats defeat the Buffalo Bulls on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at The Convo.