March 1, 2009
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OXFORD, Ohio -- Michael Bramos scored 34 points, including five straight during a crucial stretch, to lift Miami University's men's basketball team to a 68-63 victory over Kent State Sunday afternoon at Millett Hall. The win snapped a three-game slide for the RedHawks and kept them within a game of first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division.
Bramos finished with a season-high 34 points, the sixth time in his career he has topped 30 points. Tyler Dierkers added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Antonio Ballard chipped in 12 points. Carl Richburg dished out a career-high nine assists for Miami (16-11, 9-5).
With Miami down 57-56 with under four minutes to play, Bramos hit a three from the left side, then drove the lane for two more points on the next possession. After Kent State had a couple of chances to cut into the lead, Dierkers canned a three to put the RedHawks up seven, 64-57 with 1:46 to play.
Kent State (16-13, 8-6) tallied the next three points to trail by four, 64-60, but Bramos and Ballard combined to hit four of six free throws in the final 30 seconds to preserve the victory.
Miami opened a 7-4 early lead but saw the Golden Flashes go on an 11-2 run to open their biggest lead of the game, 15-9. But Miami scored seven of the next nine points and eventually pulled even at 19.
Each team rattled off five straight points -- Kent State first to go ahead 24-19 -- before the teams went to the locker room even at 30-30.
The RedHawks used a Bramos three in the second half to go back up five, 41-36, but the Golden Flashes closed the gap again at 41-41 with 12:40 to go. The teams were tied three times after that and 13 times overall.
Tyree Evans led Kent State with 15 points, while Jordan Mincy added 14 and Justin Greene 10.
Miami stays at Millett Hall this Thursday for its final home game of the 2008-09 season. The RedHawks host Bowling Green at 7 p.m.
