In a Mid-American Conference matchup defined by a significant second-half scoring shift, Ohio University defeated Eastern Michigan University 68-67 Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Bobcats secured the win on a 30-foot three-pointer as time expired, despite the Eagles leading for nearly 35 minutes of the contest.
First-half defensive dominance
Eastern Michigan established early control through defensive efficiency. After Ohio scored the game’s opening basket, the Eagles responded with nine consecutive points. EMU’s defense limited the Bobcats to 15 points in the first half—the lowest total allowed by the Eagles in a single half since a 2018 game against Ball State University.
During the opening 20 minutes, Ohio shot 24.0% from the floor and managed only one successful three-point attempt on 15 tries. Conversely, the Eagles built a 19-point advantage before entering the locker room, leading 32-15.
Second-half turnaround
The Eagles opened the second half with a three-pointer from Braelon Green, extending their lead to a game-high 20 points (35-15) with 18:32 remaining. Following this peak, the Bobcats began a 19-7 run to reduce the deficit to 42-34 at the 15-minute mark.
The Bobcats’ offensive efficiency increased significantly after the break, as they shot 57.6% from the field and 50.0% from beyond the arc in the second half. Ohio took its first lead since the opening minutes following an 11-0 scoring run that erased a nine-point EMU advantage.
Statistical leaders
Several Eagles recorded notable individual performances:
- Addison Patterson scored a team-high 17 points and added six rebounds. This marked his third consecutive game with at least 14 points.
- Braelon Green achieved a career-high 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field. Green was also 3-for-3 from three-point range, surpassing his total of one made three-pointer over the previous 14 games.
- Jon Sanders II contributed 12 points, including two triples and six successful free throws.
As a team, Eastern Michigan out-rebounded Ohio 38-35 and shot 43.8% from three-point range. However, the Eagles struggled at the free-throw line in the second half, converting only 46.2% (6-of-13) of their attempts.
The final minute
The closing stages saw multiple lead changes and high-percentage shots. Addison Patterson hit a three-pointer with 1:34 remaining to put EMU ahead 66-61. With 14 seconds left, Jon Sanders II made a free throw to push the lead to 67-63.
Ohio quickly responded with a layup to bring the score to 67-65. With 5.9 seconds remaining, Eastern Michigan had an opportunity to extend the lead at the free-throw line but missed two attempts. Ohio secured the rebound and transitioned down the court, launching a stunning contested 30-foot prayer that found the bottom of the net as the horn sounded, finalizing a gut-wrenching 68-67 loss for Eastern Michigan.
Historical context and outlook
With the win, Ohio extends its lead in the all-time series against Eastern Michigan to 56-29. The Eagles now hold an overall record of 7-8 and a 1-2 mark in MAC play, while the Bobcats improve to 8-7 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
The Eagles will continue conference play on the road, traveling to Muncie, Indiana, to face Ball State University on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
