ATHENS, Ohio – The Bobcats of Ohio showcased their strength on the court, securing an 82-76 victory against UNC Asheville on Saturday night, led by a stellar performance from AJ Clayton, who scored 19 points.

Clayton also made a notable defensive contribution, recording three blocks throughout the game. Shereef Mitchell played a key role as well, contributing 12 points while effectively shooting 5 out of 7 from the field and hitting 1 out of 3 from three-point range. In addition, Mitchell recorded five rebounds and dished out five assists, highlighting his all-around play. Elmore James made his mark by scoring 12 points, with an impressive shooting performance of 3 out of 6 from the field and a perfect 5 out of 6 from the free-throw line.

For the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville, Josh Banks was a standout, netting 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds. His teammate, Fletcher Abee, matched his scoring output with 20 points as well. Toyaz Solomon contributed 14 points and secured six rebounds in an effort to rally his team.

Going into halftime, Ohio held a solid lead over UNC Asheville, finishing the first half with a score of 42-34, setting the tone for the remainder of the match.