Ohio beats Broncos

Published 1:23 am Thursday, January 26, 2012

ATHENS (AP) — D.J. Cooper scored 18 points and Ohio used a second-half run to defeat Western Michigan 56-51 on Wednesday night.

The Bobcats (16-4, 4-2 Mid-American Conference) took a 10-1 lead, forcing Western Michigan into five early turnovers and holding them without a field goal for the game’s first 4:58.

The Broncos, though, used a 16-1 run late in the first half to send it into halftime tied at 30.

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Western Michigan led 40-38 with 12:33 to play before Ohio answered on a 14-6 run over the next 6:38. The Bobcats’ lead wouldn’t be threatened the rest of the way.

Ohio held Western Michigan (9-11, 3-3) to 30.2-percent shooting (16 of 53) and forced it into 17 turnovers.

Austin Richie led the Broncos with 16 points and Mike Douglas added 12.

Shayne Whittington added 13 rebounds for the Broncos, who outrebounded Ohio 43-32.