GAME NOTES: The Ohio University Bobcats take aim at the 20th win of the campaign as they welcome the Kent State Golden Flashes to the Convocation Center for Mid-American Conference action.

Kent State suffered its second consecutive setback on Wednesday as it dropped a 73-66 decision at Bowling Green. The Golden Flashes managed to hit on only 34.9 percent of their field goal attempts, including a 5-of-15 clip from 3- point range, while allowing the Falcons to shoot 46.8 percent from the floor. The recent skid has lowered coach Rob Senderoff's squad to a 15-13 overall record. Kent State's 6-9 MAC ledger has it tied for last place in the East Division standings with Bowling Green.

Coach Jim Christian's Bobcats are coming off a crucial, 69-64, loss to Buffalo which dramatically hindered their chances of claiming the East Division crown. Ohio is tied for second place in the division with Akron, two games behind the Bulls with only two left to play after Saturday. The loss was the second- straight at the Convocation Center for the Bobcats, who are now 11-5 at home. With a victory over Kent State, Ohio will reach the 20-win plateau for the third consecutive season. A victory will also give Christian his 100th career MAC triumph.

This will be the 135th meeting between these schools on the hardwood. Ohio downed the Golden Flashes, 59-53, at the MAC Center on Jan. 8 to extend its all-time series lead to 91-44.

Although they are three games below the .500 mark in league play, the Golden Flashes have been outscored by only two ppg by their MAC foes. Kent State's starting five struggled in the loss to the Falcons, collectively making only 12-of-32 attempts from the floor. Devareaux Manley came off the bench to net 16 points, while Kris Brewer and Mark Henniger contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively. Darren Goodson also had a poor showing as he finished 1-of-12 from the floor despite playing only 11 minutes. Brewer is pacing the Golden Flashes with 12.2 ppg and Derek Jackson also owns a double-digit scoring average at 11.1 ppg.

In the loss to the Bulls, senior guard Nick Kellogg led the Bobcats with 18 points and made three of his seven shots from 3-point range. Kellogg needs just four more makes from beyond the arc to become the program's all-time leader in made 3-pointers and is just seven triples away from becoming the MAC's new record holder. Senior forward Jon Smith chipped in 11 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the floor. Smith has connected on 13 of his last 14 field goal tries and 20 of his last 23. Junior guard Javarez Willis has taken on a more substantial role over the past four games, while starting point guard Stevie Taylor has been dealing with a leg injury. Willis has posted 6.3 ppg and 4.8 apg during that stretch.

The Golden Flashes appeared to be a contender to win the MAC after an impressive non-conference performance, but they have been disappointing in league play. Ohio is 11-0 in afternoon games and 11-1 on Saturdays this season. The Bobcats will most likely be able to overcome Taylor's absence, especially if Kellogg's shooting streak continues.