Ohio holds off W Kentucky 89-84 behind Laster's 23 points
ATHENS, Ohio -- Mike Laster scored 23 points and all five of his free throws, Kevin Mickle added 17 points, and Ohio held off a late Western Kentucky run to win 89-84 on Sunday, ending the Hilltoppers' three-game win streak.
Tevyion Kirk scored 17 points with 9 of 11 free throws and Ohio (5-4) made 31 free throws to the Western Kentucky's 15 but was outscored 50-34 in the paint. James Gollon scored 13 points with three 3-pointers and Jason Carter added 12.
The Hilltoppers trailed by as many as 17 in the second half but rallied to within seven points on Marek Nelson's back-to-back 3-pointers with 1:58 to play. Taveion Hollingsworth's jumper made it a three-point game with 14 seconds to go, but Carter and Kirk each made a pair of free throws to seal it for Ohio.
Laster's go-ahead free throw put Ohio up for good, 7-6, and the Bobcats led 42-30 at halftime behind Gollon's 13 points.
Hollingsworth scored 19 points and Justin Johnson had 16 with 13 rebounds for Western Kentucky (6-3). Darius Thomspon, Dwight Coleby and Jake Ohmer scored 12 apiece.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Chris Beaver
- Terry Oglesby
- Lewis Garrison
2024-25 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTEP | 4-1 | - | 14-4 |
| Middle Tennessee | 4-1 | - | 13-5 |
| New Mexico State | 4-1 | - | 11-7 |
| Kennesaw State | 3-2 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Jacksonville State | 3-2 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Liberty | 3-3 | 1.5 | 15-4 |
| Western Kentucky | 2-3 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2-4 | 2.5 | 13-6 |
| Sam Houston | 1-5 | 3.5 | 8-11 |
| Florida International | 1-5 | 3.5 | 7-12 |
2024-25 Mid-American Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 6-0 | - | 14-4 |
| Akron | 6-0 | - | 13-5 |
| Ohio | 4-2 | 2 | 10-8 |
| Toledo | 4-2 | 2 | 10-8 |
| Kent State | 3-3 | 3 | 12-6 |
| Ball State | 3-3 | 3 | 9-9 |
| Eastern Michigan | 3-3 | 3 | 9-9 |
| Central Michigan | 2-4 | 4 | 8-10 |
| Bowling Green | 2-4 | 4 | 7-11 |
| Western Michigan | 2-4 | 4 | 5-13 |
| Buffalo | 1-5 | 5 | 6-12 |
| Northern Illinois | 0-6 | 6 | 4-14 |
Men's College Basketball News
