Jan. 29, 2011
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OXFORD, Ohio - Wearing throwback jerseys with numbers representing some of the greatest Miami players in school history, the RedHawk men's basketball team jumped to an 18-point lead Saturday at Millett Hall, but a hot shooting Western Michigan team was able come back in the second half and eventually win the contest, 73-68, in overtime. Miami falls to 9-12 overall and 4-3 in the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos improve to 11-9 overall and 4-3 in the MAC.
WMU shot 51.5 percent (14-for-27) in the second half to get back into the game and tie the score. The Broncos then hit four out of five shots (80 percent) in the overtime period to steal the victory from the RedHawks. Julian Mavunga led Miami with 22 points.
Miami came out hitting its three-point baskets early as treys from Chris McHenry and Mavunga staked the Red and White to a 10-5 lead. A jumper by Mavunga and a three-pointer by Nick Winbush extended the advantage to 10 at 15-5. It would eventually get to 16 at 23-7 with 12:37 remaining when Allen Roberts hit a three-pointer of his own.
Western Michigan would go on a 13-6 run to get within nine at 29-20. Miami countered by finding Mavunga inside. He was fouled several times and finished the half a perfect 8-for-8 on his free throws. A layup by Mavunga, along with a layup and a three-pointer from Orlando Williams sparked a 13-2 run that made it 40-22 with 2:38 to go in the half. WMU finished the period with a mini 6-2 run that sent the RedHawks into the break in front, 42-28.
Miami hit 53.8 percent of its shots (14-for-26) during the first half, including 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) from behind the arc. They held the Broncos to 41.4 percent shooting (12-for-29) and outrebounded Western, 15-14. Mavunga led the RedHawks with 15 points.
Mavunga, Roberts and Williams each hit layups early in the second half as Miami was able to maintain its double-digit lead. With the score 53-38 in favor of the RedHawks at the 13:52 mark, the Broncos would go on a 12-1 run to pull within four at 54-50 with 10:25 to go. Chris McHenry would answer with a three-pointer to push the lead back to seven, but a 9-3 run would make it 60-59 with 5:07 remaining.
After tying the game at 62 on two free throws, Western Michigan took the lead for the first time since it was 3-2 when Nate Hutcheson hit a three-pointer from the corner. Miami's defense would stiffen and keep the Broncos from scoring again for the final two minutes of regulation. Mavunga would pull the RedHawks to within one after hitting a free throw, and then hit a jumper with 19 seconds remaining to tie the score and send the game into overtime.
The Broncos scored the first two buckets of the extra frame to take a four point lead. Williams answered with an old-fashioned three-point play to pull Miami within one at 69-68 with 3:18 remaining. That would prove to all the RedHawks would score in the period as WMU hit to more layups to secure the 73-68 win.
In addition to Mavunga's 22 points, Williams finished with 15 points, while Roberts contributed 12. Miami hit 42.1 percent (24-for-57) of its shots for the game. The Broncos finished the game having shot 49.2 percent (30-for-61), and were led by Demetrius Ward with 21 points.
The RedHawks return action Tuesday when they host Ball State at 7 p.m.
