Kent State continued its hot streak, and as a result Ohio won't return to the NCAA Tournament.
The Golden Flashes won for the 14th game in a row, holding off the Bobcats 67-61 in a Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinal at Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday.
Kent State (23-9) beat Ohio for the second time the last three weeks, and advances to the championship game against Akron.
The Zips upset No. 1 Toledo on Friday's first semifinal game.
Ohio (24-9) won the MAC Tournament last season, eventually beating Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. The Bobcats won't make a return trip to the big dance, and lost for the fifth time in seven games after starting the season 22-4.