Miami University
Central Michigan
Miami Wins MAC Opener at Central Michigan, 75-62
12/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2005
MT. PLEASANT, Mich.--Sparked by a 22-point, 10-rebound performance by junior forward Nathan Peavy--his fourth double-double in as many games--Miami University's men's basketball team collected a 75-62 win at Central Michigan, seizing its first Mid-American Conference season-opening road win since 1995 and moving to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. The Chippewas drop to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in MAC action.
A 3-pointer by sophomore guard Chad Troyer at the 11:00-minute mark gave Miami its largest lead of the first half, 13-8. CMU went on a 9-2 run to take the 17-15 lead by the 8:27 mark off a Sefton Barrett layup. CMU led by as many as three points in the first half. A clutch trey by junior guard Doug Penno handed Miami a late 29-28 edge with 35 seconds remaining, but CMU's Giordon Watson tossed in a jumper with two seconds left to give the Chippewas the 30-29 lead at the half.
Two Penno treys and a pair of sophomore forward Tim Pollitz layups along with a Peavy dunk and a senior center Nate VanderSluis jumper spurred Miami on a 17-4 run to start the second half to catapulted Miami to a 46-34 lead by the 13:45 mark. Redshirt freshman guard Lawrence Ross tossed in a layup with 23 seconds left to give Miami its largest lead of the game--18 points--with 23 seconds left, 73-55. A freshman forward Tyler Dierkers jumper rounded out the Miami scoring and the RedHawks came out with a 75-62 win.
Peavy added two steals and three blocks to his double-double. Tim Pollitz tied a career-high with 12 points and added six rebounds. Penno and senior guard William Hatcher added 11 points apiece. Hatcher also tallied seven rebounds and four assists.
Miami continues its trip through the state of Michigan when it plays at Oakland at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
NOTES: Available for the first time this season after coming off an ankle injury, senior guard Josh Hausfeld made his first appearance of 2005-06, playing two minutes ... Miami shot 52.0 percent from the field, the first time this season it has shot 50 percent from the field ... the RedHawks outrebounded CMU 35-23, the second straight game they have outrebounded an opponent.
