Cincy Sporting News » Armon Bassett

Ohio 97, Georgetown 83

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:42:24 +0000

Associated Press

Ohio's Reggie Keely, left, and DeVaughn Washington (1) react during the first half of an NCAA first-round college basketball game against Georgetown in Providence, R.I., Thursday, March 18, 2010.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — How about a standing O for Ohio!

The MAC champion Bobcats, who had a losing record in conference play, have found their way in March and now boast an NCAA tournament win for the first time in 27 years.

Georgetown might want to skip the tourney next time it’s in Providence.

Armon Bassett scored 32 points to lead the Bobcats to a convincing 97-83 win over the Hoyas in the Midwest Regional.

In early March, no one expected Ohio (22-14) to be in this position. The team had just finished a 7-9 season in Mid-American Conference play and entered the conference tournament as the ninth seed.

Four wins later, Ohio was in the 65-team field.

Forty minutes later, the Bobcats are in the second round.

Ohio seized the lead early on its 3-point shooting and never had a serious letdown the rest of the way. The Hoyas (23-11) made a small run in the second half that cut a 19-point lead down to seven.

No worries. D.J. Cooper, who scored 23 points, nailed a 3 to the delight of all those green-clad fans who made the trip and cheered them on the whole way. The Bobcats cruised from there and now have won six straight games.

Ohio joined Murray State, which knocked off Vanderbilt 66-65 at the buzzer, as the two big upset winners Thursday.

Chris Wright led the Hoyas (23-11) with 28 points. Georgetown coach John Thompson III said a day earlier his team was playing their best basketball of the season. It certainly didn’t extend into the tournament opener.

The Hoyas looked sensational in winning the first three games of the Big East tournament, before losing to West Virginia in the championship, and appeared to have positioned themselves as a legitimate Final Four threat.

It wasn’t to be.

The Hoyas had a rough time in Providence back in 1989, too, when they narrowly beat No. 16 seed Princeton 50-49. At least they won in ’89.

This time the Hoyas were flustered and frustrated throughout. When Greg Monroe was on his back after being whistled for an offense foul, he pounded the court in disbelief and anger.

Monroe had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Hollis Thompson scored 16 points.

Bassett, the MAC tournament MVP, made it look easy. After a 3-pointer made it 39-26, he just turned toward the crowd with a shrug and smiled.

Ohio led by 12 at halftime and kept on rolling against the Big East power. Cooper picked Georgetown’s Jason Clark clean, sprinted toward the basket and tossed the ball backward high over his head where a streaking DeVaughn Washington slammed home the alley-oop in the play of the game.

The Bobcats have something to show for a turbulent season. They opened conference play with four straight losses, lost one player for the season with a broken hand and Washington was suspended five games for team violations. Coach John Groce even kicked a player off the team.

That all seems like ancient history when the only thing that matters is another game in March.

Ohio 54, Miami (Ohio) 42

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:53:14 +0000

Associated Press

Ohio's Armon Bassett (0) and Miami of Ohio's Nick Winbush collide under the basket in the first half of a semifinal round NCAA college basketball game at the Mid-American Conference tournament Friday, March 12, 2010, in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND — Armon Bassett scored 28 points and DeVaughn Washington added 18 as ninth-seeded Ohio advanced to the final of the Mid-American Conference tournament by beating cold-shooting Miami (Ohio) 54-42 in the semifinals Friday night.

The Bobcats (20-14), who upset top-seeded Kent State in the quarterfinals, will meet third-seeded Akron in Saturday’s championship. The winner gets the MAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Akron won both regular-season matchups between the schools.

Bassett, who made his way to Ohio after stops at Indiana and Alabama-Birmingham, scored six straight points during a 13-2 burst in the second half when the Bobcats put away the RedHawks (14-18).

Ohio is in the final for the first time since winning the tourney title in 2005.

Kenny Hayes scored 12 for fourth-seeded Miami, which shot 35 percent from the floor and scored 12 points in the first half.

Ohio 85, Ball St. 77

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:32:31 +0000

Associated Press

MUNCIE, Ind. — Armon Bassett scored 25 points, including the layup that sent the game into overtime, and Ohio defeated Ball State 85-77 in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament Sunday.

The Bobcats (18-14), who will face top-seeded Kent State on Thursday in the quarterfinals, rallied from a six-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation to force OT.

After a layup by D.J. Cooper tied the score at 67-all with 1:44 to play, capping an 8-2 run, Jarrod Jones briefly gave the Cardinals (15-15) a two-point lead with a layup.

Bassett answered with his game-tying shot, was fouled on the play but missed the free throw.

Ohio then opened overtime with a 7-3 run and led the rest of the way.

Tommy Freeman and DeVaughn Washington each scored 15 points for the Bobcats.

Randy Davis led Ball State with 21 points, and Jauwan Scaife added 17.

Bowling Green 60, Ohio 82

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:14:34 +0000

Associated Press

Bobcats off to Ball State for MAC Tournament First Round on Sunday

ATHENS, Ohio — Armon Bassett scored 17 points as Ohio cruised to an 82-60 win over Bowling Green on Thursday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.

D. J. Cooper had his fifth double-double of the season with 11 assists and 10 rebounds, plus seven steals to set a single-season record for steals (85) for the Bobcats (17-14, 7-9 Mid-American Conference), who split the season series with the Falcons. Tournament play begins Sunday.

Kenneth van Kempen, who had eight points and eight rebounds, became Ohio’s all-time leader in games played (128).

The Bobcats, who were 9-for-18 from 3-point range, also set a school record for 3-pointers (230).

Ohio didn’t score until 3:34 into the game. Trailing 7-5, the Bobcats closed the final 11:50 of the first half with a 28-8 run and led by as many as 35 in the second half.

Scott Thomas led the Falcons (14-15, 6-10) with 17 points.

Wright State 59, Ohio 64

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:03:18 +0000

Associated Press

ATHENS, Ohio — Armon Bassett scored 26 points, 20 in the second half, to lead Ohio University to a 64-59 win over Wright State on Saturday.

A 3-pointer by Bassett, who didn’t start but played 36 minutes, gave the Bobcats (15-13) a 53-50 lead with 4:07 left. Bassett hit another 3-pointer to make it 56-52 with 1:32 left after N’Gai Evans made two free throws for the Raiders (18-10).

A 3-pointer by Vaughn Duggins with 7 seconds left brought Wright State within three, 62-59, but Bassett hit two free throws with 3 seconds left for the final margin.

Duggins, who finished with 15 points, had 10 in the first half, which ended with Wright State ahead 25-24 after leading by as many as eight points.

DeVaughn Washington added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Bobcats of the Mid-American Conference.

Todd Brown scored 11 points and Cory Cooperwood 10 for the Raiders of the Horizon League.

Central Michigan 76, Ohio 89

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:52:54 +0000

Associated Press

The Bobcats made the inaugural Be Blue event a memorable night in the Convocation Center Thursday, playing well across the board for an exciting 89-74 win over the visiting Central Michigan Chippewas

ATHENS, Ohio — Armon Bassett scored 25 points and DeVaughn Washington added 24 in Ohio’s 89-76 win over Central Michigan on Thursday night.

The Bobcats (14-11, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) led 40-37 at halftime, but the Chippewas (11-12, 6-5) pulled within one point on Brandon Ford’s layup with 14 minutes to go.

The Bobcats then went on a 13-2 run and led 64-52 on Bassett’s 3 with 10:27 left.

Ohio led by as many as 79-63 on Washington’s free throws with 3:39 remaining.

Washington made a career-high 14 free throws out of 19 attempts as Ohio was 35 of 48 from the foul line (72.9 percent).

The Bobcats shot 57.1 percent in the second half (12 of 21), compared to 31.6 percent shooting (12 of 38) by the Chippewas after halftime.

Robbie Harman had a career-high 31 points and nine 3-pointers for Eastern Michigan. Harman became the school’s all-time leader in 3s with 208.