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GAME NOTES: After knocking out the top-seeded Kent State Golden Flashes, the ninth-seed Ohio Bobcats will now take on the fourth-seeded Miami-Ohio RedHawks in semifinal action of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Bobcats opened this tournament with an 85-77 overtime victory over Ball State, and followed that win with an impressive 81-64 decision over Kent State on Thursday. Ohio, which finished just 7-9 in league action, has won this event four times, but the last one came back in 2005.

As for the RedHawks, they earned a bye through the first round, but finally took the court on Thursday and promptly defeated the Buffalo Bulls, 73-59. The RedHawks have won this tournament on four different occasions, with the most recent title coming in 2007.

The Bobcats own a 96-89 advantage over Miami-Ohio in the all-time series. The RedHawks defeated Ohio earlier this season with a 79-67 decision, but the Bobcats responded with a 70-68 victory over Miami-Ohio on their home floor.

The Bobcats opened the matchup against Kent State with a 32-15 advantage and never looked back as Ohio defeated the top-seeded Flashes, 81-64. The Bobcats shot 50.0 percent from the floor and also connected on 27-of-32 attempts from the foul line. Armon Bassett exploded for 38 points in the win and also dished out seven rebounds, while DeVaughn Washington added 19 points and eight rebounds. Bassett comes into this matchup averaging 16.3 ppg, and has also dished out 103 assists on the season. D.J. Cooper is contributing 13.2 ppg, and has also dished out a team-best 195 assists, to go along with 5.5 rpg. As a whole the Bobcats are producing an impressive 74.6 ppg, behind a mediocre 42.7 percent shooting effort.

The RedHawks held the Bulls to a woeful 30.8 percent shooting effort from the floor in the first half, and took a 32-21 edge into the break. From there the RedHawks never looked back, as they went on to win by a 14-point margin. At the offensive end of the floor the RedHawks shot a sizzling 57.9 percent from the floor and also connected on 22-of-30 attempts from the foul line. Kenny Hayes led the way in the win with 27 points, while Julian Mavunga added 16 points and six assists. Nick Winbush and Rodney Haddix tallied 11 points apiece in the win. Hayes is pacing the team on the season with 15.0 ppg and 3.2 apg, while Mavunga is contributing 10.3 ppg, to go along with a team-high 6.4 rpg.

The RedHawks have been tenacious at the defensive end of the floor, but the Bobcats just dominated Kent State, which is also solid defensively. At this point the Bobcats are riding a tidal wave of momentum and should earn a spot in the title game with a win tonight.