ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio men’s basketball team, currently standing at 1-3, is all set to grace the court from November 21st to 24th at the highly anticipated 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational. This marks their second appearance in this prestigious tournament under head coach Jeff Boals, with the first being in 2019 during his inaugural season at Ohio. The Bobcats kick off their three-game journey on Thursday, November 21st, against Middle Tennessee State (3-1), with the game commencing at Noon ET inside the HTC Center on the Coastal Carolina campus. The action will be broadcasted on ESPNU, where Robert Lee and Noah Savage will provide the play-by-play commentary. Additionally, the Bobcats’ matchup can be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Jason Toy begins his first season as the on-air voice for the Bobcats and will be joined by Ohio alum Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens continues to serve as the 11-station network’s flagship.

Storylines and Past Encounters

This is the fifth all-time meeting between the Bobcats and the Blue Raiders. Remarkably, Ohio holds a perfect 4-0 record against MTSU. The two teams last faced off last season on November 25th at the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship, with Ohio emerging victorious with a score of 80-68. In that game, AJ Clayton showcased his scoring prowess with 15 points, while Shereef Mitchell added 14 to the tally. The last time Ohio and MTSU met at the Myrtle Beach Invitational was on November 24th, 2019, and once again, Ohio came out on top with a score of 75-63.

Ohio's Performance This Season

Currently, Ohio is 1-3 overall after a tough loss to Memphis on November 15th. The team is averaging 76.6 points per game, shooting at a 44.7% clip from the field, 37.8% from three-point range, and 74.4% from the free-throw line. However, opponents are averaging 85.8 points per game, shooting a more efficient 53.1% from the field, 53.7% from three, and 68.6% from the line. On the rebounding front, Ohio is averaging 29.5 rebounds per game, along with 12.0 assists, 4.3 blocks, and 6.3 steals. Opponents, on the other hand, are averaging 34.8 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 3.5 blocks, and 7.5 steals per game, forcing Ohio to turn the ball over 12.0 times on average. Individually, AJ Brown leads the team with 14.0 points per game, shooting at a 48.6% clip from the field, 47.4% from three, and 92.9% from the line. Shereef Mitchell adds 13.0 points per game, averaging 4.0 rebounds and shooting 68.8% from the field. AJ Clayton is averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, shooting 40.0% from the field. Aidan Hadaway chips in with 11.0 points per game, and Elmore James adds 9.5 points.

Middle Tennessee State's Outlook

Middle Tennessee enters this matchup with a 3-1 record after suffering a defeat to Murray State with a score of 88-67 on Saturday. The team averages 80.8 points per game, shooting 48.4% from the field, 26.6% from three-point range, and 72.5% from the free-throw line. Opponents, on average, score 64.5 points per game, shooting 40.6% from the field, 23.5% from three, and 708% from the line. In terms of rebounding, Middle Tennessee averages 40.5 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 8.5 steals, and 5.3 blocks per game, while forcing 14.8 turnovers. Their opponents average 30.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 5.3 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game, forcing Middle Tennessee to turn the ball over an average of 11.3 times per contest. Individually, Jestin Porter leads MTSU with 14.8 points per game, shooting 50.0% from the field, 33% from three, and 78.6% from the line. Essam Mostafa adds 12.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, shooting 60.0% from the field and 70.0% from the line. Jlynn Counter contributes 12.0 points per game, shooting 55.9% from the field, 333% from three, and 778% from the line.

Upcoming Games and Next Challenges

The Bobcats are back in action for the second game of the 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational on Friday, November 22nd. They will take on either USF or Portland, with the game scheduled at either 11:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. This is an exciting phase for the team as they look to build on their performance and continue their journey in the tournament. #OUohyeah