ATHENS, Ohio – D.J. Cooper scored 25 points to help Ohio record a 78-64 victory against Walsh in its final exhibition game of the season Saturday at The Convo.

The Bobcats led 43-30 at halftime, but the Cavaliers used a 16-7 run to open the second half to cut their deficit to 50-46.

Ohio freshman Nick Kellogg converted a three-point play, and fellow freshman Ricardo Johnson followed with a 3-pointer to push the Bobcats’ lead back to double digits.

Walsh cut the deficit to five points with 8:56 remaining, but Tommy Freeman made a free throw and hit his only 3-pointer of the game to keep the Cavaliers from getting any closer.

The Bobcats finally put the game away by getting a pair of free throws by Reggie Keely and Cooper, with a Cooper 3-pointer in between to take a 71-59 lead with 2:51 remaining.

Ivo Baltic led the Bobcats with eight rebounds, while Keely had five.

Freshman T.J. Hall was the only Bobcat besides Cooper to score in double figures with 11, including a four-point play when the game was tied at 8 that put the Bobcats ahead.

Ron Kinney, who led Walsh with 17 points, hit a 3-pointer, a little later to give the lead back to the Cavaliers, 13-12. They later led 15-13 before the Bobcats scored nine straight points to take the lead for good.

Baltic and Keely had eight points each for the Bobcats, who shot 44.4 percent from the field.

Walsh had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double-figures. L.J. Sutton scored 13 points off the bench, while Lamar Skeeter and Jeremy Shardo had 12 points apiece.

Center Terrance Saintil led all players with 10 rebounds.

Ohio forced 17 turnovers, including three Cooper steals, while committing only 12 of its own.

The Cavaliers shot only 31 percent, but took advantage of making 22 of 27 free throw attempts. Ohio was 22 of 31 at the foul line.

Next up for the Bobcats is the regular season opener at 2 p.m. next Saturday against Delaware in The Convo.