Miami University
Illinois State
Late Run Gives RedHawks Win Over Illinois State, 51-49
2/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2006
OXFORD, Ohio--In a battle that pitted two of the nation's top teams in scoring defense, Miami University's men's basketball team (15-8) edged Illinois State University (9-16) 51-49 on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference tilt at Millett Hall.
The game, a result of the Bracket Buster Presented by eBay, was Miami's sixth straight win--a season-long streak for the RedHawks--and featured the nation's 15th and 25th ranked teams in scoring defense in Illinois State and Miami, respectively.
Miami led by as many as eight points in the first half and led 29-25 at the half, but Illinois State went on a 9-2 run to start the second half and captured a 34-31 lead by the 14:41 mark.
Miami used a late 13-2 run from 7:42 to 3:24 in the second half to overcome a five-point deficit (38-43) and gain a six-point advantage (51-45) and a lead it would not relinquish. Redshirt freshman Eric Pollitz came of the bench for the RedHawks and provided a spark, dishing the ball to twin brother sophomore Tim Pollitz for a layup to ignite the Miami run. Tim hit one of two free-throw attempts to put the `Hawks within two and Eric tossed in a layup at the 6:21 mark to knot the game, 43-43. Freshman Michael Bramos connected on one of two free-throw attempts to give Miami the lead for good at 5:25, 44-43.
After a senior William Hatcher layup at 5:04 to put the RedHawks up three, 46-43, Neil Plank put in a layup for the Redbirds to put Illinois State within one, 46-45. Junior Nathan Peavy nailed a jumper and Hatcher drained a trey to put the RedHawks up six, 51-45. Illinois State would pull within two off a jumper by Greg Dilligard and a pair of free throws by Roberto Fortes with 1:41 remaining. A key steal by senior Josh Hausfeld with two seconds remaining prevented a final Redbird shot attempt, and Miami pulled out the 51-49 win.
Peavy led the RedHawks with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Tim Pollitz added 13 points and four assists.
Fortes led all players with a career-high 23 points, going a scorching 7-for-11 from 3-point range and accounting for all seven of the Redbirds' treys. Dilligard followed with 12 points, while Plank led all players with six assists and nine boards.
Miami returns to action in a critical Mid-American Conference East Division clash when it entertains league co-leader Akron at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Notes: Miami and Illinois State shot an identical 41.3 percent from the field, while the Redbirds edged the RedHawks on the boards 30-29 ... the RedHawks' six turnovers were a season low.
