Clutch Plays by Bramos Earn MU Win over Xavier
11/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2007
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OXFORD, Ohio (AP) -Michael Bramos made three straight free throws in the closing seconds to rally Miami and then blocked a shot to preserve the RedHawks' 59-57 win over Xavier on Tuesday night.
Bramos was fouled on a 3-point attempt with six seconds left, sending him to the line with the RedHawks trailing 57-56 in their season opener. After making all three of his shots at the line, Xavier pushed the ball down the court only to have Bramos block a layup by Drew Lavender as time expired.
Xavier (1-1) led 32-21 at halftime and during much of the game but shot just 43 percent (9 of 21) in the second half, while Miami shot 55 percent (12 of 22) over the same period.
Tim Pollitz scored 21 to lead the RedHawks (1-0). Kenny Hayes added 18 and Bramos finished with 15.
Derrick Brown led Xavier with 12 points. B.J. Raymond had 11 and C.J. Anderson added 10.
Miami Men's Basketball Game Notes
Nov. 13 - Millett Hall - Oxford, Ohio
Miami vs. Xavier
- Three made free throws by Michael Bramos, after he was fouled on a three-point attempt with six seconds remaining, gave the RedHawks a two-point lead and a Bramos block on a Drew Lavender runner as time expired earned Miami the win over Xavier.
- After a Kenny Hayes floater in the lane hit the front of the rim, Tim Pollitz grabbed the offensive rebound and put in the lay-up to give Miami a 56-55 lead with 51 seconds to play.
- A lay-up by Drew Lavender and a dunk by Derrick Brown at the 2:07 mark gave Xavier a 55-54 lead over the RedHawks with 2:07 remaining in the game.
- A lay-up by junior guard Kenny Hayes gave Miami a 51-50 lead with 5:49 to play in the game, giving Miami its first lead since the RedHawks led 16-15 with 8:43 to play in the first half.
- A Josh Duncan lay-up pushed the Xavier lead to five points, 47-42, with 9:00 remaining in the second half, before a lay-up by Kenny Hayes and a fast-break by Tim Pollitz brought Miami within one point, 46-47, with 8:06 remaining.
- Three lay-ups by Tim Pollitz, a three-pointer by Michael Bramos and a layup by junior guard Kenny Hayes led Miami on an 11-2 run to cut Xavier's lead to two points, 32-34, with 15:49 to play in the second half.
- Tim Pollitz led the RedHawks with eight points at the break on 4-of-6 shooting. The Musketeers shot 46.2 percent from the field in the first half compared to 34.8 percent shooting by Miami.
- After a trey by sophomore guard Alex Moosmann cut Miami's deficit to five points, 19-24, with 5:24 remaining, a tip in by Tim Pollitz at the 4:09 mark would be the only points Miami scored the rest of the half as Miami went into the locker room trailing 21-32.
- Three consecutive turnovers by Miami ignited a 9-0 Xavier run, giving the Musketeers a 24-16 lead with 5:47 remaining in the first half.
- Junior Mike Bramos opened up hitting two three pointers that gave Miami a 6-5 lead at the 15:14 mark of the first half.
- With the win, Miami improves to 82-22 in home openers and moves to 69-35 in season openers.
- Sophomore center Adam Fletcher and junior guard Kenny Hayes made their first career starts for Miami.
