Ohio's Jaaron Simmons dribbles toward the basket during a game against Northern Illinois University on Feb. 6, 2016 at the Convocation Center. The Bobcats won the game 80-69.
Ohio coach Saul Phillips has gone to his deep bench rotation multiple times this season because of a poor performance or foul trouble, looking for whatever combination might prove successful.
Tuesday night was not one of those games.
Instead, it was all five of Ohio's starters wearing out Ball State (15-9, 6-5 MAC), and winning 72-69. It was Ohio's fourth win in its last five games and gives it a conference record above .