Ohio opened the season on the right note in posting an 81-66 win over San Francisco Monday night at the Convocation Center. Sophomore Sonny Troutman led five Bobcats in double figures with 15 points. Newcomers Leon Williams and Mychal Green finished with 14 and 11 points respectively. John Cox led USF with 26 points but was just 8-for-23 shooting.

Ohio (1-0), the last team in Division I-A to start play, showed no ill effects in shooting its way to a 40-24 halftime edge. The 'Cats pushed the lead to as much as 19 early in the second half and the Dons (1-2) wouldn't get closer than eight the rest of the way. OU shot 46% for the game and knocked down 8-of-15 3-point attempts.

Terren Harbut led the team with 8 rebounds to go with his 10 points. Tim O'Shea received good bench play from Clay McGowen and Jeff Halbert. McGowen had eight points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Halbert scored 11 points and was 3-of-4 from the 3-point line. Point guard Jeremy Fears was spotty in his Bobcat debut. He scored eight points and had six assists but shot just 1-for-10 from the field and committed six turnovers.