ATHENS, Ohio – Reggie Keely ignited a second-half run as Ohio turned a close game into a blowout, defeating Delaware in the season-opener, 88-69, at The Convo on Saturday.

Keely had 14 of his career high 19 points in the second half, including 10 during a 20-7 run to start the second half that put the Bobcats on top 55-40. He added 11 rebounds and three blocks in the game.

D.J. Cooper scored 14 of his 25 points while the Bobcats struggled in the first half, and he also dished out seven ass...

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 wi...

ATHENS, Ohio – Five players scored in double-digits as Ohio cruised to an 86-50 victory against Wooster in its exhibition opener Saturday at The Convo.

Freshman T.J. Hall led the way with 15 points, while Tommy Freeman and Ivo Baltic had 12 points each. Ricardo Johnson and D.J. Cooper added 11 points apiece.

Ohio shot 54.5 percent from the floor, compared to 35.8 percent for Wooster, which had only one player – Nathan Balch with 13 points – score more than five points in the game.

Balch...

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men’s basketball team was tabbed as the favorite to win the Mid-American Conference East Division and to repeat as tournament champions in a vote by a 24-member media panel announced Thursday.

In addition, sophomore point guard D.J. Cooper was picked to the preseason All-MAC East Division team.

The Bobcats, who return three starters from last year’s tournament champion team, received 128 points and were followed by Kent State with 114 points and Akron with 104 point...

Ohio basketball has received a verbal commitment from Hutchinson (KS) Community College combo guard Joe Mitchell. As a freshman last season at Hutchinson, Mitchell averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He'll join Ohio for the 2011-12 season as a junior. With this commitment, coach John Groce has one more scholarship to give in the 2011 recruiting class.

Multiple news outlets are reporting that Gahanna Lincoln High School point guard Stevie Taylor has committed to play basketball at Ohio. Rivals.com listed the 5-10, 155-pounder with offers from Akron, George Mason, James Madison, Miami (OH), Providence and Toledo. Scout.com also listed offers from Charlotte and Richmond. Taylor is the first verbal to Ohio's 2011 recruiting class.

A 16-0 run sandwiched around halftime led St. Mary's to a 70-63 win over Ohio (8-4) in the Rainbow Classic Championship Game. For the third straight game in the tourney, Leon Williams posted a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Jerome Tillman also got in on the act with 23 points and 10 boards. Williams and Tillman were named to the all-tournament team.

Patrick Mills, named the Classic's Most Outstanding Player, had 23 points to top the Gaels (10-1). Ohio struggled to shoot the ba...

Leon Williams' 3-point play with 1:02 to go put Ohio ahead to stay in a 74-68 win over Louisiana-Lafayette at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. The frontline of Williams (23 points), Justin Orr (20) and Jerome Tillman (16) combined for 59 of Ohio's 74 points. Williams' 23 points and 10 rebounds against the Ragin' Cajuns followed a 24-point, 10-rebound performance against St. John's. Louisiana-Lafayette, who erased a 15-point second-half deficit before falling to 3-7, were led by Chris Gradnigo's...

Leon Williams' layup with .2 seconds remaining lifted Ohio to a 71-69 win over St. John's in the Rainbow Classic. The basket capped his 24-point, 10-rebound night. Bubba Walther chipped in 15 points for Ohio (7-3). D.J. Kennedy had 17 points to lead the Red Storm (4-3). The Bobcats will meet Louisiana-Lafayette Friday night at 12:30 AM. The Ragin' Cajuns knocked off host Hawaii 61-59 to move into the winner's bracket.

Mario Chalmers' 17 points led four Kansas scorers in double figures as the #3 Jayhawks posted an 88-51 win over Ohio at the Sprint Cent in Kansas City. Kansas (10-0) held the Bobcats (6-3) to 28.3% shooting and dominated on the glass by a 46-27 margin. Bert Whittingtin IV led the Cats in scoring with 10 points. Ohio now leaves the mainland to face St. John's Wednesday in the opening round of the Rainbow Classic.