ATHENS, Ohio (Interstat) — In a pivotal Mid-American Conference clash, the Massachusetts Minutemen used a dominant third-quarter surge to overcome a halftime deficit and defeat the Ohio Bobcats 85-76 on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.

The game’s decisive stretch came after halftime, with Massachusetts trailing 38-35. The Minutemen erupted for 26 points in the third quarter, their highest-scoring period of the night, while holding Ohio to 20. That 16-6 run to open the second half flipped the script entirely, turning a three-point deficit into a seven-point lead from which the Bobcats could not recover. Massachusetts outscored Ohio 50-38 in the second half, showcasing an offensive efficiency that proved insurmountable.

The victory improved Massachusetts to 15-4 overall, while Ohio fell to 12-7.

The Minutemen were propelled by a stellar performance from guard Yahmani McKayle. The Queens, New York, native scored 25 points and dished out six assists in 37 minutes, controlling the tempo and attacking the paint relentlessly. She was complemented powerfully by forward Megan Olbrys of Norwood, Massachusetts, who added 24 points. The inside-outside combination of McKayle and Olbrys proved too much for Ohio’s defense, as Massachusetts scored 52 points in the paint.

Ohio, which led 21-16 after a first quarter marked by hot three-point shooting, was led by Gigi Bower’s 17 points. The Powell, Ohio, guard hit five three-pointers, part of a 13-for-37 team effort from beyond the arc. Monica Williams added 11 points for the Bobcats. However, Ohio’s reliance on the perimeter shot contrasted sharply with Massachusetts’s interior dominance, as the Bobcats managed only 28 points in the paint.

The statistical story underscored Massachusetts’s control. The Minutemen shot 54.1% from the floor on 33-of-61 shooting, while Ohio connected on 45% of its attempts. Massachusetts also forced 21 Ohio turnovers, converting them into 22 points. While Ohio won the battle on the offensive glass 12-10 and blocked six shots, its 21 giveaways and Massachusetts’s 13 steals were critical factors.

Defensively, Massachusetts adjusted after the first quarter, where Ohio hit five three-pointers. The Minutemen tightened their perimeter defense and used their length to disrupt passing lanes, keying the game-changing run. Ohio’s offense, which posted an offensive rating of 98.5 points per 100 possessions, was stifled by a more efficient Massachusetts attack that scored 112.0 points per 100 possessions.

The game began at a frantic pace, with Ohio’s Bella Ranallo and Aliah McWhorter hitting early threes. Massachusetts stayed close through the work of Olbrys and McKayle inside, but Ohio held a slim lead for much of the first half. The Bobcats took their largest lead of the game at 32-25 in the second quarter after a Gigi Bower three-pointer, but the Minutemen closed the half on a 10-6 spurt to narrow the gap to three.

The third-quarter explosion by Massachusetts featured a balanced attack. Chinenye Odenigbo contributed inside with timely baskets, while McKayle orchestrated the offense. A key sequence saw Massachusetts get consecutive stops and scores, including a driving layup by McKayle and a putback by Odenigbo, to extend the lead to nine points late in the period. Ohio never got closer than five points in the fourth quarter as Massachusetts consistently answered every Bobcat basket, often from the free-throw line where they attempted 23 shots to Ohio’s 13.

Other key contributors for Massachusetts included Lilly Ferguson with 10 points and Odenigbo with 11 points and a block. Ayanna Franks added nine points and two steals. For Ohio, Arianna Jennings provided a spark off the bench with nine points and two blocks in just 12 minutes.

The win continues a strong stretch for Massachusetts, which has now won three of its last four conference games. Ohio, coming off a loss to Toledo, has dropped two of its last three.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Massachusetts entered the game with a 69.6% probability to win. The Minutemen validated that projection with a performance defined by resilience and a commanding second-half effort, seizing control of the game when it mattered most.

Massachusetts next hosts Eastern Michigan on Feb. 4. Ohio travels to face Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 31.