ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Walter Offutt scored five of his 13 points in the final 3 minutes to help Ohio hold on for a 59-54 win over Ball State Saturday.
The Bobcats (17-4, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) led 34-27 at halftime and pushed their lead to 43-31. The Cardinals then went on a 15-3 run.
Ball State (12-6, 4-3) took its first lead since the game’s opening five minutes, 54-43, on Tyler Koch’s 3 with 3:19 remaining. Offutt then made a layup, missed the ensuing chance at a three-point play and Jarrod Jones missed one of his two foul shots for the Cardinals, making it 55-55 with 2:33 to go.
Offutt broke the tie with a layup and then made a free throw to put the Bobcats up by three with 27 seconds left.
Jones finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds and Chris Bond had 14 and 12 for the Cardinals.
