Back to the Ohio State Buckeyes Newsfeed

Men’s basketball | Ohio University 79, Ball State 73: Bobcats respond to coach’s fiery halftime speech

ATHENS, Ohio — One week into the league portion of the season and it’s becoming apparent that beating anyone in the Mid-American Conference will be similar to digging a trench on a 90-degree day.

That’s why Ohio coach Saul Phillips used words at halftime against Ball State that he said he might wind up asking for forgiveness for on Sunday.

“I hopped around like a 3-year-old,” he said.

The words sunk in, and the Bobcats became the aggressors behind Antonio Campbell and Jaaron Simmons in outpunching the Cardinals 79-73 on Saturday at the Convocation Center.

Campbell, a 6-foot-9 center, was never better in totaling 27 points and 13 rebounds.