CLEVELAND — Armon Bassett scored 38 points to lead Ohio past top-seeded Kent State, 81-64 Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

Bassett dominated the game for the ninth-seeded Bobcats, who advance to the semifinals against Miami (Ohio), 73-59 winners over Buffalo, on Friday night. The junior guard was 9 of 17 from the field, made all 16 of his free throws, had seven assists and five rebounds in playing all 40 minutes.

Ohio (19-14) lost to Kent State twice in the regular season, but took control early and led by double figures for most of the first half. Ohio led by as many as 17 and was up 40-24 at halftime.

DeVaughn Washington chipped in 19 points for Ohio.

Chris Singletary, who led Kent State (23-9) with 19 points before fouling out, scored six in less than two minutes, including a three-point play to pull within 66-60 with 4:01 left.

OHIO 81, KENT STATE 64

OHIO (19-14)

Keely 1-2 2-4 4, van Kempen 2-8 0-0 4, Bassett 9-17 16-16 38, Cooper 0-1 2-2 2, Freeman 2-9 0-0 6, Washington 8-8 3-6 19, Baltic 0-1 0-0 0, Adedipe 0-0 0-0 0, Sayles 2-2 4-4 8. Totals 24-48 27-32 81.

KENT STATE (23-9)

Henry-Ala 2-7 1-2 6, Greene 2-6 4-4 8, Evans 0-6 0-0 0, Singletary 6-13 7-16 19, Sherman 5-13 1-2 12, Holt 2-2 0-0 5, Pinckney 0-1 0-2 0, Simpson 6-11 0-0 12, McKee 1-8 0-0 2, Parks 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-67 13-26 64.

Halftime—Ohio 40-24. 3-Point Goals—Ohio 6-16 (Bassett 4-8, Freeman 2-7, Cooper 0-1), Kent St. 3-20 (Holt 1-1, Henry-Ala 1-2, Sherman 1-3, Pinckney 0-1, Singletary 0-1, Simpson 0-2, Evans 0-5, McKee 0-5). Fouled Out—Singletary, van Kempen. Rebounds—Ohio 42 (Washington, van Kempen 8), Kent St. 35 (Greene 9). Assists—Ohio 14 (Bassett 7), Kent St. 7 (Singletary 3). Total Fouls—Ohio 18, Kent St. 22. A—NA. 2. A—NA.