The 13th-seeded Ohio Bobcats advanced to the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament with a 62-58 win Saturday night against No. 4 Virginia in West Region action at Indiana University's Assembly Hall.
Ben Vander Plas led the Bobcats with 17 points. Ben Roderick added 15, and Jason Preston contributed 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
"It's awesome. It's awesome. Huge credit to, you know, just the bench. I don't know if you could see it on TV, but man, their energy was amazing," Preston told sideline reporter Dana Jacobson after the win.
"I could not be prouder of this group. ... We've stayed together. This guy right here, Jason Preston - unbelievable player, better person. And championship teams find a way to win," Ohio head coach Jeff Boals told Jacobson.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was among those celebrating the Bobcats' win.
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Ohio will face Creighton in the second round on Monday at 6:10 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast on TNT.
The Bobcats last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2012, when they beat Michigan and South Florida to reach the Sweet 16 - losing in overtime to North Carolina.
Ohio, which earned the Mid-American Conference's automatic bid by winning the MAC Tournament, was the last No. 13 seed to reach the Sweet 16 of the Big Dance.
It's the first time since 1985 that neither the Xavier Musketeers nor the Cincinnati Bearcats will participate. XU also turned down an opportunity to play in the NIT.
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