Ohio Bobcats Face Middle Tennessee in 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational

The Ohio men’s basketball team is set to participate in the 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational, starting with a matchup against Middle Tennessee State on Thursday, November 21. The game will be held at the HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina and will be broadcast on ESPNU, with Robert Lee and Noah Savage providing the commentary. The game can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System, with Jason Toy and Ohio alum Rob Cornelius on the call.

The Bobcats, currently standing at 1-3, are looking to bounce back from their recent 94-70 loss to Memphis. Key players for Ohio include AJ Brown, who averages 14 points per game, Shereef Mitchell with 13 points and 4 rebounds per game, and AJ Clayton, who contributes 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Aidan Hadaway and Elmore James also add significant scoring with 11 and 9.5 points per game, respectively.

This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the Bobcats and the Blue Raiders, with Ohio holding a 4-0 record against Middle Tennessee. The two teams last met in the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship, where Ohio won 80-68. This is also the second time under head coach Jeff Boals that Ohio has participated in the Myrtle Beach Invitational, having competed there in 2019.

Middle Tennessee, with a 3-1 record, is also seeking a rebound after an 88-67 loss to Murray State. The Blue Raiders are led by Jestin Porter with 14.8 points per game, Essam Mostafa with 12.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and Camryn Weston with 11.3 points and 3.5 assists per game. Middle Tennessee averages 80.8 points per game and has a strong defensive presence, particularly in defending the perimeter.

The betting odds favor Ohio by 1.5 points, with an over/under of 152. However, some analysts predict Middle Tennessee could have an edge due to Ohio’s struggles in defending three-point shots and Middle Tennessee’s efficient play inside the arc.