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Ohio men's basketball welcomed back Bobcat Nation Monday night for the 2012 calendar year with a home stumble against Robert Morris. RM broke the 'Cats nine-game winning streak, beating them 70-67.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, this was Ohio's first home loss since Jan. 22, 2011.
Twelve and two after the loss Monday, the Bobcats had moved to 12-1 Friday night as Walter Offutt matched his career-high with 17 points to lead Ohio in a 71-63 win over Kennesaw State, tying the Bobcats' best start ever. The 1939-40 and 1920-21 squads each started their seasons with the same record.
Ohio's Ivo Baltic scored 15 points and once again, finished one rebound shy of a double-double. D.J. Cooper and Nick Kellogg chipped in 14 apiece for Ohio. Cooper also had seven assists as Kellogg matched his season-high with four three-pointers. (In Monday's loss, Cooper had 13 points and seven assists.)
The victory over Kennesaw State was the ninth straight win for the Bobcats and 13th in a row at home. At that point, Ohio had held its opponents to fewer than 70 points in six consecutive games. Friday night, the 'Cats had 12 steals, including four by Kellogg, in forcing 16 Kennesaw State turnovers. Ohio scored 22 points off the miscues.
Coming into the season, Head Coach John Groce had stressed the importance of being sounder defensively, and before Monday night's game, the work appeared to be paying off. Ohio had limited opponents to 26.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc, one of the best marks in the nation.
Ohio's shooting game took a break Monday night when they only shot for 35 percent, as compared to a blistering 53.2 percent by Robert Morris (11-4).
Ohio launches into its MAC schedule at Bowling Green this Saturday.
