Miami University
Wright State
RedHawks Edged by Wright State, 51-48
11/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2002
DAYTON, Ohio-Junior guard Juby Johnson scored a team-best 16 points and senior forward Byran Reed notched a career-high and game-best 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as Miami was edged by Wright State, 51-48.
Wright State improves to 3-0 overall, while the RedHawks fall to 1-3.
The Raiders jumped out to a 12-4 advantage, but went scoreless over a seven-minute stretch as Miami rattled off seven unanswered points off a three-pointer by Johnson and a pair of baskets by junior guard Chet Mason to close the gap to one, 12-11. WSU then went on a 9-2 run to extend its lead to eight, 21-13, with 2:54 remaining in the half.
A three-point basket by junior forward Gene Seals and a pair of free throws from Johnson shrunk the Raider lead to three, 21-18, with 1:19 left. Wright State's Joe Bills drilled a trey with 52 seconds remaining, but senior guard Doug Williams answered with a three pointer of his own with 14 seconds left to make the score 24-21 in favor of the Raiders. However, Tyson Freeman sunk a three-point shot with four seconds left to give the Raiders a six-point edge heading into the half, 27-21.
Wright State opened the second half by tallying five quick points to take its largest lead of the game, 11 points, 32-21. Miami, however, went on a 17-5 surge from the 17:20 mark to 9:07 to take a one-point edge, 38-37, its first lead since the opening basket of the game. Senior guard Matt Jameson ignited the run with a lay up and capped the surge with a lay up off a precise pass from sophomore forward Tim Schenke. Johnson collected nine of his 16 points during that stretch off two three pointers and connecting on three-of-four free throws.
Twice over the final six minutes Miami held a two-point advantage-42-40 off a three pointer by sophomore forward Danny Horace at the 5:47 mark and 46-44 following a pair of free throws by Mason with 3:09 remaining. Wright State, however, outscored the RedHawks 7-2 over the final 2:39 of the contest to capture the 51-48 win.
In addition to Johnson and Reed, Mason chipped in 13 points for the RedHawks, while Horace blocked three shots.
Miami returns to action when it hosts Dayton on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised locally on WHIO. The RedHawks then host Western Michigan in their Mid-American Conference opener in the second game of a double header on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. Miami's women's team hosts Wright State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
