Miami Postgame Notes vs. Evansville
12/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2011
Miami vs. EvansvilleTuesday, Dec. 20, 2011
Oxford, Ohio - Millett Hall
Miami Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
Freshman guard Brian Sullivan, who played a career-high 35 minutes, finished with a career-high 18 points, including 13 in the first half, which was just one shy of his previous career best of 14 that he scored against Dayton Nov. 15. He also nailed a career-high-tying four 3-pointers, including 3-for-3 in the opening half, and made a career-best seven field goals. He also hit four treys against Dayton when he made five field goals, his previous best.
Senior forward Julian Mavunga, who played all 40 minutes, recorded his sixth double-double this season (third straight) and 19th of his career Tuesday, as he totaled 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Entering the game, he led the MAC with 20.6 points per game. He also went 9-for-9 from the free throw line, marking his fourth straight game with at least nine made free throws and fifth this season.
Miami handed out a season-high 18 assists, led by a season-best five from Mavunga, while committing just 13 turnovers. Tuesday's game marked the first time the RedHawks had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio all season. Miami dished out nine assists in each half while the 13 giveaways was just one more than the season-low 12 it committed against Belmont last Saturday.
Miami nailed a season-high 10 3-pointers Tuesday on 23 attempts. The RedHawks were 5-for-11 from behind the arc in the first half and 5-for-12 in the second half. Miami's previous high for triples was nine at Troy Dec. 3.
Miami shot 59.1 percent in the first half on 13-of-22 shooting, which was the fifth time the RedHawks have hit over 50 percent from the field in a half this year. The 59.1 percent was a single-half season best, topping the 54.2 percent (13-for-24) Miami shot in the second half against Dayton. The `Hawks were also above 50 percent shooting in the second half, going 13-for-24 (54.2 percent) as Miami finished the game a season-best 56.5 percent (26-for-46) for the floor. Its previous best shooting night was 50.0 percent at Saginaw Valley Nov. 21.
Sophomore forward Jon Harris finished with a career-best-tying two blocks in a career-high 38 minutes of action, also swatting a pair of shots at Kent State Jan. 23, 2011. Mavunga had Miami's other two blocks as the `Hawks totaled four blocks in the game.
Miami finished with four scorers in double figures for the second straight game and third time this season as Mavunga and Brian Sullivan each had 18 points, sophomore guard Josh Sewell chipped in 14 and Harris ended with 10. Mavunga, Harris and Sewell, along with sophomore guard Quinten Rollins, all reached double figures against Belmont last Saturday.
Evansville used a 16-2 run over a 4:13 stretch in the second half to turn a 44-36 Miami lead into a 52-46 advantage for the Purple Aces.
Evansville outscored Miami, 36-20, in the paint and, 21-10, in points off turnovers.
The Purple Aces extended their lead in the all-time series with Miami to 8-4, including 3-3 in Oxford.
Former RedHawk great Mike Ensminger ('01) was honored in the first half as part of the "Fantastic Fourteen," which fans voted on earlier this year, choosing the top 14 players in Miami history.
--MURedHawks.com--