Ohio looks to continue road rage

by Paul Shugar
Staff Writer

Letdowns on the road often happen, but so far this season the Ohio men’s basketball team has not allowed one to hurt it.

Except their lone loss to Kent State, the Bobcats are perfect in Mid-American Conference road play this season. Ohio (11-4 overall, 6-1 MAC) looks to keep this streak alive against Western Michigan (9-9, 2-5). This will not be an easy task against a Broncos team that is 6-2 at home this season.

The Bobcats are coming off a win against rival Miami, followed by a road scare against Eastern Michigan, where the team found itself behind by seven points at halftime.

“In fairness to our team it is hard to come off a big win against a rival and not have a little bit of letdown,” coach Tim O’Shea said. “We came out and played a really great second half.”

In the last meeting between Ohio and Western Michigan forward Brandon Hunter pounded Western Michigan for a double-double of 27 points and13 rebounds and Ohio won 86-68. Hunter leads the team in scoring this season, averaging 18.4 points per game.

Two members of Hunter’s supporting cast — forwards Steve Esterkamp and Sonny Johnson — are still fighting through injury and sickness.

Ohio should have Johnson, who averages 15.4 ppg, back this weekend. He has battled an ankle injury suffered last Jan.19 against Miami. He sat out the Eastern Michigan game but should be ready to play this weekend, O’Shea said.

Esterkamp, who averages 13.9 ppg, has been battling a cold all week, but he said nothing would keep him from playing against the Broncos.

“I will be ready to play no matter what,” Esterkamp said. “The big thing for us will be energy in the defensive zone this game.”

The cold did not slow down Esterkamp in the last game. Esterkamp hit three three-pointers to keep Ohio afloat against Eastern Michigan. He leads the MAC from behind the arc, shooting 53 percent.

The team also responded well without Johnson against Eastern Michigan. Ohio showed their depth with forward Patrick Flomo leading all scorers with 16 points, and guard Jason Crawford added a career high 11. Both are not the usual suspects in the scoring column for the Bobcats.

“Flo is just playing with a lot more energy and intensity and crashing the boards harder than earlier this year,” Esterkamp said.

Crawford said consistent scoring should continue from the guards.

“I just went out last game and put it in the basket,” he said. “I just need to look to attack more and that will help take some of the pressure off of Brandon and the guys inside.”

Western Michigan is coming off a 74-61 loss to Ball State, but has had consistent defense all year. Both the Bobcats and the Broncos are allowing an average of 70 ppg. Both teams are also close on rebounding, with Ohio averaging 35.5 and Western Michigan averaging 34.9 rebounds per game.

Ohio tries to come out fast and furious on the road against Western Michigan 2 p.m. Saturday in Kalamazoo, Mich.