Feb. 16, 2008

Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y.--Three RedHawks scored in double figures as Miami University's men's basketball team earned a 64-55 road win at the University at Buffalo on Saturday night.

Junior center Tyler Dierkers hauled in a career-high 13 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, to lead all players. Junior guard Kenny Hayes scored a game-high 16 points, senior forward Tim Pollitz had 12 points, while junior guard Eric Pollitz added 10 points for the RedHawks. Junior forward Michael Bramos amassed four of the RedHawks' five blocked shots against the Bulls.

The RedHawks, who have won seven of their last nine, moved to 13-11 overall and 7-5 in Mid-American Conference play. The Bulls dropped to 8-16 overall and 2-10 in league action.

Buffalo used a 7-0 run midway through the first half to pull out to a 15-11 lead with 12 minutes to play in the first half. The Bulls continued to hold a four-point advantage with 7:29 to play in the half, 23-19, but Miami manufactured an 12-1 run over the next 4:21 to take a 31-24 lead at the 3:02 mark. A Hayes 3-pointer pushed the RedHawk advantage to eight points, 34-26, but a pair of Bull free throws rounded out the first half scoring and sent the RedHawks into the half with a 34-28 lead.

Byron Mulkey scored UB's first five points of the half as the Bulls were able to keep within six points of the RedHawks, the latest at 39-33 with 16:20 to play. But Miami went on a 12-0 run, spurred by treys from junior guard Carl Richburg and Eric Pollitz, to capture an 18-point lead with 10:38 to play, 51-33. Buffalo shrunk the gap to 12 points, but Miami used another scoring flurry, an 8-0 run, to push its advantage to 20 points with 3:31 to play, 59-39, and the RedHawks rolled to the 64-59 win.

Mulkey led the Bulls with 15 points, while Andy Robinson added 13 points and Calvin Betts had 10 points.

After a long week of travel, Miami has a quick turnaround, hosting Akron at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19.