ATHENS – Short-handed Ohio withstood a late Northwestern Ohio rally to close non-conference play with a 65-58 victory Friday night at The Convo.

The NAIA Racers used a 12-0 run to get within four in the closing minutes before the Bobcats (7-5) put the game away.

Kevin Mickle scored 15 points, and Teyvion Kirk had 14 points and 14 rebounds to lead Ohio. Mike Laster added 12 points.

Ohio led 60-44 on a Mickle steal and dunk with 7:33 remaining, but Northwestern Ohio (8-9) got back in it, closing the gap to 60-56 on a Daniel Page jumper with 3:28 to go. The Racers missed a pair of 3-pointers that could have made it even closer before Laster knocked one down for the Bobcats to end a nearly five-minutes scoring drought.

Laster added a couple of free throws in the closing minutes to close it out.

Nathan Bradley led the Racers with 13 points, while Willis Mackey Jr. had 11 points, Corbin Pierce finished with 10 points, and Page had 8 points and 11 rebounds.

Ohio scored the game’s first seven points but led just 36-30 at halftime. It used a 7-0 run to start the second half to start to take control.

The Bobcats used just seven players in the game. Jason Carter missed the game with an injury, and Zach Butler sat out with an illness.

Ohio begins Mid-American Conference play against Central Michigan at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.