By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

FRANKLIN FURNACE — T.J. McCloud and Cody Bruce had big offensive games, but it was the defense that may have been the difference.

The mix of offense and defense enabled the Green Bobcats to edge the Eastern Eagles 63-62 Tuesday in a big Southern Ohio Conference game.

“It was a good, steady ball game. We mixed our defenses up and kept them from getting into any rhythm,” said Green coach Bobby Blanton. “We’re improving defensively.”

Green had a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter but kept giving Eastern chances to win the game. The Bobcats were just 7 of 15 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and Eastern got key 3-pointers from Caleb Watkins and Jordan Thornsberry.

“We had a couple of bad turnovers that gave Eastern a chance and they hit some threes. We missed some free throws down the stretch, but we managed to hold on and pull out the win,” said Blanton.

Green is now 7-3 overall and 6-1 in the SOC. Eastern is 6-5 and 4-2.

“That was a big win. We have one league loss and they have two, so we’re still in the hunt,” said Blanton.

McCloud had 25 points and 17 rebounds while Bruce had 21 points, six rebounds, seven assists and six steals to lead Green.

Thornsberry scored 18 and Dakota Hawks 16 for Eastern.

Bruce scored seven points in the first quarter, McCloud scored eight in the second quarter and Tyler Crace hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first half at Green led 32-31 at the break.

The Bobcats were up 44-42 after three quarters and McCloud had 12 points in the fourth quarter to offset nine by Thornsberry.

Eastern had the ball with four seconds to play and got off a shot but couldn’t connect as time expired.

Eastern 12 19 11 19 = 62

Green 12 20 12 19 = 63

BEAVER EASTERN (6-5, 4-2): Caleb Watkins 3 1 0-3 9, Dakota Hawks 6 1 1-1 16, Chad Lamb 0 2 0-2 6, Morgan Cisco 1 0 0-2 2, Jordan Thornsberry 2 3 5-5 18, Tavarus Pickett 2 0 0-0 4, Satterfield 0 1 0-0 3, Billy Lykins 2 0 0-0 4, Blake Roberts 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 8 7-13 62. Fouls: 25. Fouled out: None.

GREEN (7-3, 6-1): Tyler Hughes 1 0 0-2 2, Pat Pierce 2 1 2-6 9, Clay Applegate 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Bruce 8 0 5-10 21, Tyler Crace 0 2 0-0 6, T.J. McCloud 10 0 5-10 25, Chad Lewis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-54 12-28 63. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 3-7. Rebounds: 35 (McCloud 17, Hughes 6). Assists: 10 (Hughes 7). Steals: 11 (Hughes 6). Turnovers: 18.