Jan. 17, 2009
Box Score
KENT, Ohio--Charlie Coles earned his 216th win at the helm of the Miami University men's basketball program, tying the program's all-time win mark set by Darrell Hedric, as the RedHawks seized a 66-55 win at Kent State on Saturday afternoon.
Senior forward Michael Bramos knocked down a game-best 24 points, while sophomore guard/forward Antonio Ballard recoded his fist career double-double with career highs of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Eric Pollitz added 12 points and a career-high-tying seven assists.
Bramos reached the 20-point scoring plateau for the 20th time in his career and the sixth time this season with his last 20-point scoring effort coming on Dec. 13 against Valparaiso when he tossed in 28 points against the Crusaders.
Miami (9-6; 2-1 Mid-American Conference) used a 14-2 run over the final 5:18 of the game to capture the win against the Golden Flashes (8-9; 1-2 MAC). A jumper by Pollitz at 5:18 ignited the run and handed Miami a 54-53 edge and a lead it would not relinquish. A layup by senior forward/center Tyler Dierkers at 4:27 put the RedHawks up three, but a tip-in by KSU's Brandon Parks cut the gap to one with 4:05 remaining, 56-55.
After more than two scoreless minutes, Ballard knocked down a jumper at 1:53 to put Miami up 58-55. Bramos powered in a layup at 1:08 and was fouled on the play. He hit the ensuing free throw and went on to sink and additional five free throws on six attempts down the stretch.
Miami closed out the game scoring the last 10 points en route to the 66-55 win.
Miami had gotten out of the gates quickly in the first half, building a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes and leading 15-4 by the 15:05 mark. Kent State chiseled away at the RedHawk advantage before taking its first lead of the game, 21-20, off an Al Fisher three-point play at 9:18. Fisher hit a layup with 7:04 to play in the first half to give Kent State its second lead of the game, 23-21. The Golden Flashes would lead one last time in the game off a Chris Singletary jumper with 5:34 to play to give the Golden Flashes a 53-52 edge before Miami's final scoring flurry.
The Golden Flashes were led by Fisher's 14 points. Mike McKee followed with 12 points, while Parks added nine boards.
Miami returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 20 when the RedHawks travel to Bowling Green to face the Falcons at 7 p.m.
