March 8, 2009
Box Score
AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) - Playing its final regular-season game, Miami University's men's basketball team came up short on Sunday afternoon, falling in overtime at Buffalo, 70-67. Senior forward Michael Bramos notched his first career double-double with 19 points and a career-high 10 rebounds to lead all players in both statistical categories.
With the win, the Bulls (19-10, 11-5 Mid-American Conference) tied with Bowling Green for the regular-season MAC title. Miami (18-11, 10-6 MAC) finished in a three-way tie for third place in the East Division with Akron and Kent State but earned the No. 4 seed in the MAC Tournament. The RedHawks received a first-round bye and will face the winner of the No. 5 seed Akron vs. No. 12 seed Toledo matchup in the tournament quarterfinals at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Miami had a stellar first half against the Bulls, shooting a blistering 68.0 percent from the field over the opening 20 minutes of play to take a 40-27 lead into the half. Bramos tallied 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half with the RedHawks boasting 12 assists to five turnovers in the opening stanza. Miami used a 15-5 run over the final 4:55 of the first half, and posted its largest lead off a trio of sophomore guard Rodney Haddix II free throws with three seconds remaining in the half to take a 134-point lead into the lockerroom.
In the second half, Buffalo used a 14-2 run mid-way through the half to take a 57-53 lead off an Andy Robinson layup at 6:07. A dunk and a driving layup by Bramos evened the score 57-57. Miami went up two off a pair of sophomore guard/forward Antonio Ballard free throws with 3:19 remaining. The teams were scoreless until Buffalo's Greg Gamble was fouled and nailed both free throws with 27 seconds remaining in regulation to knot the game, 59-59. Miami had one shot at the win but fell short, and the game went into overtime.
The teams traded two buckets apiece in the opening minutes of overtime to leave the game tied, 63-63 with 1:02 remaining. Andy Robinson drained three free throws to put the Bulls up three, 66-63, with 48 seconds left. Miami junior center Adam Fletcher sunk the first end of a one-and-one with 36 seconds left, but came up short on the second to leave the RedHawks within two points, 66-64. Michael Watts was fouled with 18 seconds left and nailed both to give Buffalo a four-point cushion, but Miami came down the floor and Bramos drilled a 3-pointer to put Miami within one, 68-67 with 12 seconds remaining. On a heads up effort, Miami got the ball back after a turnover on the in-bounds pass but was unable to get a shot to fall. Buffalo got the ball back with four seconds left and Andy Robinson sunk two free throws to secure the win, 70-67.
Senior guard Carl Richburg tallied 13 points and five assists, while Ballard also handed out a career-high five assists.
Buffalo had four players score in double figures, led by Andy Robinson's 17 points.
