Miami University
Ball State
RedHawks Clip Cardinals, 66-54
2/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 2, 2008
MUNCIE, Ind.--Junior guard Kenny Hayes scored 14 consecutive points to lift Miami to a 22-point lead in the second half and poured in a game-high 27 points to lift Miami University's men's basketball team to a 66-54 win at Ball State University on Saturday afternoon.
It was the RedHawks' third straight win, including back-to-back road wins, moving the Red and White to a 10-10 record and a 4-4 Mid-American Conference mark. The Cardinals dropped to 3-17 on the season and 2-6 in the MAC.
Miami was able to build a 15-10 lead by the 12:27 mark of the first half. Ball State went on an 11-3 run over the next five minutes to claim a three-point edge with 7:24 to play in the first half, 21-18. After Miami knotted the game 24-24 off a junior guard Michael Bramos 3-pointer with 4:40 left in the half, BSU's Anthony Newell hit one of his two free-throw attempts to give the Cardinals a 25-24 edge. Miami, however, rounded out the half off on an 8-1 run, including a Bramos halfcourt 3-pointer as time expired, to take a 32-26 lead at the half.
Miami built an 11-point advantage by the 14:28 mark off a Bramos three-point play, 46-35. Rashaun McLemore came back with a three-point play for Ball State to cut the RedHawk advantage to eight points, 46-38. From 12:24 to 8:42 Hayes manufactured a 14-0 run for the RedHawks, nailing nine straight free throws in between a trey and a field goal, to catapult Miami to a 22-point lead, 60-38.
Ball State was able to close within 11 points with 1:10 to play, but Miami posted a 66-54 win.
In addition to Hayes' season-high 27 points, Bramos added 15 points and senior forward Tim Pollitz and junior guard Eric Pollitz each chipped in 10 points and four assists. Junior center Tyler Dierkers tied a career high with nine rebounds.
Newell led Ball State with 19 points, while Melvin Goins added 15 points and McLemore had 11 points.
Miami returns home for a pair of contests next week when the RedHawks host Toledo at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and Central Michigan at approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. Wednesday's halftime entertainment will be the Crosby Elementary School Unicyclers. Saturday's game is the second of a women's and men's basketball doubleheader and also is Hall of Fame Day when Miami will induct eight members into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
