ESPN Men's Basketball

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Walter Offutt scored a career-high 23 points and D.J. Cooper added 20 as Ohio defeated Buffalo 88-77 Wednesday night to move into a three-way tie for second place in the Mid-American Conference.

Offutt hit five 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds, while Cooper had eight assists and four steals for the Bobcats (22-6, 9-4), who are tied with the Bulls (16-9, 9-4) and Kent State. The league's top two teams get byes into the conference tournament semifinals.

Nick Kellogg scored eight of his season-high 15 points during a stretch early in the second half when Ohio outscored Buffalo 10-0 to take a 49-39 lead.

Ivo Baltic and T.J. Hall had nine rebounds each for Ohio, which had a 42-34 edge on the boards over Buffalo, the nation's fourth-ranked team in rebounding margin.

Mitchell Watt led Buffalo with 19 points, Javon McCrea added 15 and Titus Robinson 14.