Feb. 3, 2007
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio--Senior guard Doug Penno's 3-point basket at the buzzer gave Miami a dramatic 62-59 win over Western Michigan in Mid-American Conference play. The last time the RedHawks were victorious at the buzzer was on a Nathan Peavy jumper against Ball State on Feb. 9, 2005. The win improved Miami to 10-11 (6-3 MAC) and dropped Western Michigan to 10-12 (5-4 MAC).
The first ten minutes of the first half remained tight as junior forward Tim Pollitz scored six of Miami's first 13 points leading to a 13-13 tie with 10:08 to play in the half. However, the RedHawks went scoreless over the next 5:01 allowing the Broncos to take a double-digit lead, 23-13, with 5:07 remaining in the half. From the 5:07 mark, Miami would score only four points for the remainder of the half, two of which came by means of a tip-in by freshman forward Antonio Ballard as time expired in the first half, cutting the Broncos' advantage to 33-19 heading into halftime. Western Michigan shot 48.1 percent in the first half compared to 36.0 percent shooting by Miami. Ballard corralled seven first-half rebounds surpassing his career-high of three set against Florida A&M on Nov. 17.
Senior forward Nathan Peavy and Tim Pollitz combined for Miami's first 21 points of the second half, including a 10-0 run cutting the Western Michigan lead to one at 39-38. A layup and ensuing free throw by Tim Pollitz gave the RedHawks their first lead of the game, 46-45, with 8:27 remaining in the game. A trey by Peavy with 4:29 to play gave the RedHawks their biggest lead of the game at 55-50. Western Michigan rallied with a 7-0 run to regain the lead, 57-55, with 1:33 to play in the second half. Penno hit a 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining in the game giving Miami a 58-57 lead. A free-throw by sophomore guard Eric Pollitz extended the lead to two points, 59-57, before two free throws by Shawntes Gary knotted the game at 59-59 with 20 seconds to play. Freshman guard Alex Moosmann drove down the lane with four seconds remaining and kicked the ball out to Penno who hit a 3-pointer as the buzzer went off giving Miami a 62-59 comeback victory. Peavy (17), Tim Pollitz (12) and Penno (9) combined to score 38 of Miami's 43 points in the second half. The RedHawks shot 68.2 percent in the second half, including 66.7 percent from behind the arc.
Tim Pollitz led the RedHawks with 20 points, giving him his third 20-plus point performance in the last four games. Peavy added 19 points with 17 coming in the second half.
The RedHawks travel to Ypsilanti, Mich., to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles at 7 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 7.
Notes: Ballard's career-high seven rebounds surpassed his season sum, which was five entering the game ... sophomore forward Michael Bramos played just three minutes, leaving the game at the 16:53 mark with an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the game...Miami trailed by 16 points in the first half, which is the largest deficit the RedHawks have overcome to win a game this season.
