Miami University
UCLA
RedHawks push No. 4 UCLA before falling 64-59
11/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP)-- Miami University's men's basketball team pushed No. 4 UCLA to the brink Thursday night at Pauley Pavillion, leading 54-53 with just over five minutes remaining, but James Keefe hit a three-pointer to put the Bruins ahead to stay in a 64-59 victory over the RedHawks.
With the outcome in doubt Thursday night, Darren Collison made two free throws with 21 seconds remaining and No. 4 UCLA survived a defensive struggle.
"That was a very hard-fought win," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "We knew they'd be very patient. They really grind it out and make it tough. They also have senior, veteran guys."
So do the Bruins (2-0), who advanced to next week's semifinals against Michigan at New York's Madison Square Garden. No. 8 Duke meets Southern Illinois in the other game.
Michael Bramos scored 22 points for the RedHawks (1-1). Bramos became the 33rd player in Miami history to amass 1,000 career points, needing just nine points to reach the benchmark entering the game.
"We played a good team on their home floor," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "Of course, I would have liked to have won this game, but if you lose, I want to make sure what carryover we have. I hope this is a good carryover and we take away what we did right and not the emotions of the game."
Next up for the RedHawks is No. 5 Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. on Monday.
"It's like playing Ben Howland twice," Coles said about Howland's former defensive-minded team.
Leading 42-40, Miami's Adam Fletcher fouled Keefe, who missed both free throws. But freshman Drew Gordon picked up his veteran teammate with a basket that evened the score, one of four ties in the second half.
Miami took another two-point lead before the Bruins ran off seven straight points, helped by Michael Roll's 3-pointer, to go up 49-44.
But the RedHawks didn't go away. Bramos continued hitting and Antonio Ballard's 3-pointer - his first basket of the game - drew them within one point with five minutes remaining.
Keefe then matched Ballard, hitting a 3-pointer for his first basket to keep UCLA ahead 58-54 in between airballs by Roll and Shipp.
"Keefe's 3-pointer from the corner was a nice prayer that went our way," Howland said. "It's better to be lucky than good, I guess."
Kenny Hayes' layup gave him his first points and got the RedHawks within two.
"This was like an NCAA tournament game," Collison said. "That's a very good team. They're very patient, they took good shots. It came down to valuing our possessions. We took good shots at the end."
Alfred Aboya made two free throws that pushed UCLA's lead to 60-56. Shipp tipped the ball away from Bramos, then threw it off him as Shipp was falling out of bounds, but the referee ruled Miami retained possession.
Hayes' 3-point attempt bounced off the rim, but Shipp fouled Bramos in the ensuing scramble for the rebound. Bramos missed his first free throw and Aboya grabbed the defensive rebound with 1 1/2 minutes left.
Eric Pollitz hit a 3-pointer that drew the RedHawks to 60-59 with 51 seconds left. Clinging to a one-point lead, Collison got fouled at UCLA's end and made both.
Hayes missed a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left and Shipp made two free throws for the final margin.
The Bruins were 13-of-20 from the line, while Miami went 12-of-14.
"The key for UCLA is they made their free throws; they made six down the stretch," Coles said. "I was really hoping that Aboya would miss his free throws."
The RedHawks took a five-point lead to start the game and then never trailed by more than that the rest of the half. They made all seven of their free throws, tied the Bruins with 10 defensive rebounds and nearly matched UCLA's 48 percent shooting in the first half.
For the game, Miami shot 48.8 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from 3-point range and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. UCLA finished shooting 45.1 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from 3-point range and 65.0 percent from the free-throw line.
