Miami Ohio University Athletics
RedHawks Fall to Branch West Basketball Academy 92-82
11/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2001
OXFORD, Ohio - Despite a strong first-half effort, Miami University's men's basketball team fell to Branch West Basketball Academy, 92-82, Thursday night in its lone exhibition game of the season.
In contrast to last season's slower paced offense and lower scoring contests, Miami erupted for 47 first-half points, paced by freshman forward Danny Horace's 15 points and eight rebounds. The RedHawks outscored Branch West Basketball Academy by eight in the first half, 47-39. Miami went on an eight-point scoring run midway through the first stanza, sparked by field goals from Alex Shorts, Horace, and Chester Mason and a pair of free throws from Doug Davis.
The second half was a much different story as BWBA topped the RedHawks 53-35. Despite leading by 10, Miami gave up 15 straight points to BWBA and a lead it was unable to regain. Eugene Seals, who was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, paced the Red and White inthe second half, scoring 12 of his 14 points.
"I felt better about the first half than I did about the second half," said head coach Charlie Coles. "I didn't think we played very well in the second half. You can shoot good, but not play good. We hit some shots, but we didn't have three or four passes on our offense. I hope our performance tonight doesn't discourage people from coming to see us play, because I do think we're going to get better."
Including Seals' 14-point performance, Miami had four players in double figures led by Shorts' 18. Horace notched 17 points and a team-best nine rebounds, while Mason added 11 points.
BWBA was led by Edmund Saunders (Connecticut), who tallied 29 points, and Drew Cooper (Assumption) with 26 points.
The RedHawks open their season at UNC Wilmington next Friday (Nov. 17) at 7 p.m. followed by their home opener on Monday, Nov. 19 against George Mason. Game time is 7 p.m.
