MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Chris Fowler scored 17 points and Central Michigan topped Ohio 74-69 on Saturday.

Central Michigan (15-4, 5-3 Mid-American) took an early 12-4 lead on Fowler's jumper just over five minutes in and led 41-31 at the break.

CMU pushed the lead to 14 on John Simons' 3-pointer early in the second, but Ohio trimmed its deficit to four with 8:25 left on Antonio Campbell's dunk.

Central Michigan responded with an 11-4 run, capped by Fowler's layup with 2:11 to go that made it 69-58.

Simons finished with 16 points and nine rebounds for Central Michigan. Austin Stewart added 10 points.

Ohio (7-12, 2-6 Mid-American) placed four in double figures. Javarez Willis scored 14 points, Campbell and Ryan Taylor had 12 apiece and Maurice Ndour added 11 points and 14 boards. The Bobcats were just 5 of 18 from beyond the arc.