Big win for the Bobcats

Well the game had the makings of another Ohio collapse, but point guard Michael Allen wasn't going to let it happen again.

Allen propelled the Bobcats to a 62-55 win on Tuesday to move his team to the second round of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

He scored 12 points, including a layup with 1:28 remaining to give the Bobcats a 56-55 lead, which they kept throughout the rest of the game.

"I was proud of how we competed defensively," coach John Groce said. "I thought our guys grinded it and really competed well. It was certainly one of our best defensive performances overall.”

The Bobcats held the Broncos to just 34 percent shooting from the field. They also held Western Michigan's leading scorer David Kool to just 10 points, eight below his season average. Kool said he was frustrated throughout the game after in a news conference.

Groce said that was the plan.

“We felt like coming into the game we were really focused on making him giving the basketball up,” Groce said. “We wanted to make sure it was as difficult as possible to score.”

The Bobcats (15-16) held the lead throughout the majority of the game. But with 2:29 remaining, the Broncos took the lead for the first time since the opening stages of the game.

Many times before, Ohio folded under this type of pressure.

But not this time.

"In game situations you can’t reflect on the past," Allen said. "We just keep believing and keep playing hard."

Along with Allen, forward Jerome Tillman scored 14 points. Many of those came in crunch time when the Bobcats needed him the most.

"I thought our three seniors gave big-time effort," Groce said. "I thought we played with a great deal of energy and tremendous toughness."

Western Michigan had one chance to tie the game late with Ohio leading 58-55. But Kool took the ball and shot an air ball from 3-point range with 14 seconds. Tillman defended Kool, making sure he used his height advantage against him.

He along with guard Steven Coleman and forward Justin Orr were responsible for shutting down Kool.

“It was a team effort from different guys,” Tillman said of defending Kool. “I think JO and Steve were focused on trying to get stops.”

Another key was free throw shooting. The Bobcats shot 21-of-26 from the line while the Broncos were just 8-of-17.

"If you look at the stat sheet we won most of the statistical categories except the free throws," Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins said. "That ended up being the ultimate thing."

Western Michigan (10-21) likely will not get a chance to continue its season in a postseason tournament with the loss. Guard Shawntes Gray defined the passion of college basketball for the Broncos, tearing up in the postgame newsconference after.

“I knew it could’ve been my last game so I was going to get out there and do everything I could,” said Gray who had eight points. "They came out with shots and we struggled defensively."

The Bobcats, meanwhile, now will get a chance to avenge the 75-41 loss they suffered last Sunday against Bowling Green. The game is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday.

"I just look forward to getting on the floor again," Tillman said. "Take tomorrow and get the legs back."

Here are photos that I took sitting courtside at the game.