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ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University took a double-digit lead early and withstood a second-half run to defeat N.C. A&T 93-82 at the Convocation Center.

Sophomore Nic Simpson led the Aggies with 22 points -- his second 20-point effort in three games.

Freshman DaMetrius Upchurch came off the bench to contribute 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

"In the first half they handed it to us,'' Aggies coach Jerry Eaves said.

The Bobcats took a 26-10 lead midway through the first half, led by 18 at halftime and as many as 24 in the second half before the Aggies got back in it. A&T was never able to cut the margin to single digits.

"In the second half my team showed that they have the ability -- if they ever play hard for 40 minutes -- to be a very good team," Eaves said. "But you can't spot teams 18-point leads at halftime and expect to be successful."

N.C. A&T (1-2)

FG FT Reb

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Smith 4 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 3 2

Coleman 32 3-7 4-5 3-8 0 3 10

Johnson 30 4-14 3-5 2-5 3 2 14

Alston 30 5-10 2-3 0-4 5 1 12

Simpson 28 7-15 4-4 1-2 1 3 22

Buck 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Powell 4 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0

Hill 19 1-7 0-0 0-3 4 2 3

Williams 3 0-1 1-2 0-0 0 0 1

Witter 8 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0

Upchurch 22 3-4 1-5 3-8 1 3 11

Totals 200 24-62 19-24 10-34 14 21 82

Percentages: FG .387, FT .792.

3-point goals: 8-34, .235 (Smith 0-1, Johnson 3-9, Alston 0-5, Simpson 4-11, Powell 0-1, Hill 1-5, Williams 0-1, Witter 0-1).

Team rebounds: 3.

Blocked shots: 4 (Witter 2, Simpson 1, Coleman 1).

Turnovers: 16 (Hill 4, Alston 4, Simpson 3, Coleman 2, Johnson 1, Upchurch 1, TEAM 1).

Steals: 7 (Johsn 2, Smith 1, Coleman 1, Alston 1, Simpson 1, Upchurch 1).

Technical fouls: None.

Ohio (3-0)

FG FT Reb

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Washington 30 6-12 6-6 3-5 1 3 18

Van Kempen 22 1-6 2-4 5-11 1 3 4

Coleman 31 2-9 7-8 0-8 7 3 12

Cooper 34 6-11 0-0 3-8 4 1 15

Freeman 26 3-10 0-0 0-3 1 3 9

Baltic 16 2-3 2-4 1-3 1 3 6

Kinney 28 7-12 4-4 0-1 5 2 23

Keely 13 3-5 0-0 3-6 1 1 6

Totals 200 30-68 21-26 15-46 21 19 93

Percentages: FG .441, FT .808.

3-point goals: 12-28, .429 (Coleman 1-4, cooper 3-7, Freeman 3-8, Kinney 5-9).

Team rebounds: 1.

Blocked shots: 4 (Keely 2, Washington 1, Van Kempen 1).

Turnovers: 14 (Cooper 4, Coleman 3, Freeman 2, Baltic 2, Van Kempen 1, Keely 1, Kinney 1).

Steals: 11 (Coleman 4, Washington 3, Van Kempen 1, Kinney 1, Keely 1).

Technical fouls: Ivo Baltic.

N.C. A&T 30 52 -- 82

Ohio 48 45 -- 93

Officials--Cronin, O'Connell, Chiazza.

Attendance--3,822