MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Cayden Vasko missed a turnaround jumper at the buzzer, and Ohio held on for a 57-55 victory against Central Michigan to begin Mid-American Conference play Saturday night at McGuirk Arena.

The Bobcats (7-6, 1-0 MAC) led most of the way and went up 54-44 on an AJ Brown 3-pointer with 7:58 left, but the Chippewas (6-7, 0-1 MAC) made it interesting down the stretch and had a shot to win or tie.

A pair of Ugnius Jarusevicius free throws at the 2:20 mark made it 56-52, and then he split two from the line with 1:37 left to make it a three-point game. A tip-in from Vasko put the score at 56-55 with 45 seconds remaining.

Vasco came up with a steal on Ohio’s possession, but Brown picked his pocket from behind to get possession back. Brown then split a pair of free throws with eight seconds left. Vasco’s jumper at the end was off the mark.

Brown led Ohio with 14 points and four rebounds, while Jackson Paveletzke had 11 points, five assists and four rebounds. AJ Clayton, Aidan Hadaway, Shareef Mitchell, Vic Searls and Ajay Sheldon all finished with six points.

Ultimately, it was defense that won it for the Bobcats, who held the Chippewas to 32.8% shooting on the night, including just 28.6% in the second half. Jacobi Heady had 15 points, Anthony Pritchard 13 points and Jarusevicius 11 points to go with 11 rebounds.

An 11-0 run in the first half gave Ohio a 17-12 lead, capped by a Clayton fastbreak dunk following a Mitchell steal. Later, a Hadaway dunk put the Bobcats up double digits at 29-19, and they eventually settled on a 35-28 halftime lead.

Central Michigan briefly took the lead in the second half, first going ahead 39-38 on a Heady layup and last leading with a 42-40 advantage on a Vasco layup at the 13:15 mark. Searls scored the tying and go-ahead baskets to start a 14-2 run.

Ohio shot 43.6% overall, including just 34.6% in the first half. Central Michigan had 15 offensive rebounds and went 13 of 16 at the foul line to stay close despite its awful shooting that including going just 2 of 15 from long range.

The Bobcats play at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Buffalo.