MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Ohio’s offense came to life in the second half, and then defense held Central Michigan without a 3-pointer the entire game in an 80-64 victory Tuesday afternoon at McGuirk Arena.

The Bobcats (7-7, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) led just 31-29 at halftime but exploded for 49 points in the second half. The Chippewas (4-10, 0-2 MAC) were 0-for-13 on 3-pointers.

Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio with 23 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but it was a balanced effort overall with all five starters in double figures.

Freshman JJ Kelly scored in double figures for the sixth time in seven games with a career-high 15 points, and Aidan Hadaway had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds while also adding six assists. Ajay Sheldon and Javan Simmons tallied 10 points each.

Tamario Adley (19 points) and Phat Phat Brooks (18 points) were the only players for Central Michigan to score in double figures.

The Chippewas took advantage of the Bobcats’ slow offensive start, leading 16-9 midway through the first half. Ohio answered back to tie the game at 18 on a Sheldon 3-pointer and took their first lead since the opening minutes on a Simmons layup with 1:41 left in the half, and they held the lead at the break on a Kelly layup with four seconds left.

After trading baskets to start the second half, the Bobcats scored seven straight to take the lead for good, going up 38-31 on a steal and dunk by Hadaway. A few minutes later, another Hadaway dunk was followed by a Paveletzke 3-pointer that made it 45-33.

After a steal and layup from Elijah Elliott made it 52-37, Central Michigan had its best stretch of the second half with seven straight points, cutting its deficit to eight on a Brooks layup with 10 minutes left. Sheldon answered with a 3, and Paveletzke hit a pair of free throws to push it back to 13.

The Chippewas cut to eight again at 63-55 on a Keenan Garner layup. Paveletzke answered with a jumper, Kelly scored a layup and then Paveletzke made two more free throws to put the Bobcats up 14. They pushed the lead to as big as 78-60 in the closing minutes.

After shooting just 34.5% in the first half, Ohio was good on 54.5% of its second-half attempts. Central Michigan shot 41.4% for the game.
The Bobcats had more points of turnovers, 18-10, and more fast break points, 15-8.

Ohio plays at 2 p.m. Saturday at Eastern Michigan.