ATHENS – Ohio used a late first-half run to build a lead and then held off UNC Asheville in the second half to get its first win over the season 82-76 on Saturday night at The Convo.

The Bobcats (1-1) led by double digits at points in both halves, but the Bulldogs (0-2) even briefly took the lead. Ohio finished strong, though, to secure victory.

An Elmore James layup with 10:57 left created the biggest margin of the night at 60-48. Asheville responded with a 17-4 run, taking a one-point lead ono an Abee Fletcher 3-poitner with 5:34 to go. AJ Clayton answered back with a 3 of his own only 15 seconds later, and Ohio did not trail again.

Aidan Hadaway hit one free throw, Jackson Paveletzke two more, and then Shareef Mitchell hit a jumper to push the advantage up to 72-65. A pair of Josh Banks foul shots with 22 seconds left got the Bulldogs to within 76-73, but four more Paveletzke free throws and two by Hadaway helped close it out.

Asheville had a 19-14 lead seven minutes into the game, but Ohio settled in after that. Clayton hit a 3-pointer to tie I, and a short time later, Elmore James made two free throws and then a 3-pointer of his own to move the Bobcats in front 24-21.

The run continued with a dunk by freshman Ayden Evans, a tip-in putback by Clayton and an AJ Brown 3-pointer that made it 31-23 with 8:09 left in the half. The advantage reached 10 at 35-25 on a pair of James free throws, and Ohio led 42-34 at halftime.

After struggling in the season opener, Clayton led the Bobcats with 19 points. They had balance after that with 12 points each from James and Shareef Mitchell and 11 each from Hadaway and Paveletzke.

Both Banks and Abee were 5-of-9 from 3-point range and scored 20 points to lead the Bulldogs. Toyaz Solomon added 14 points.

Ohio hits the road to face Illinois State at 8 p.m. Tuesday.