Walter Offutt scored a career-high 23 points and D.J. Cooper added 20 as Ohio defeated Buffalo 88-77 Wednesday night to move into a three-way tie for second place in the Mid-American Conference.
Offutt hit five 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds, while Cooper had eight assists and four steals for the Bobcats (22-6, 9-4), who are tied with the Bulls (16-9, 9-4) and Kent State. The league's top two teams get byes into the conference tournament semifinals.
Nick Kellogg scored eight of his season-high 15 points during a stretch early in the second half when Ohio outscored Buffalo 10-0 to take a 49-39 lead.
Ivo Baltic and T.J. Hall had nine rebounds each for Ohio, which had a 42-34 edge on the boards over Buffalo, the nation's fourth-ranked team in rebounding margin.
Mitchell Watt led Buffalo with 19 points, Javon McCrea added 15 and Titus Robinson 14.
Offutt hit five 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds, while Cooper had eight assists and four steals for the Bobcats (22-6, 9-4), who are tied with the Bulls (16-9, 9-4) and Kent State. The league's top two teams get byes into the conference tournament semifinals.
Nick Kellogg scored eight of his season-high 15 points during a stretch early in the second half when Ohio outscored Buffalo 10-0 to take a 49-39 lead.
Ivo Baltic and T.J. Hall had nine rebounds each for Ohio, which had a 42-34 edge on the boards over Buffalo, the nation's fourth-ranked team in rebounding margin.
Mitchell Watt led Buffalo with 19 points, Javon McCrea added 15 and Titus Robinson 14.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
©2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
