March 4, 2011
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OXFORD, Ohio - Nothing is quite as sweet to a Miami senior in his final home game than a victory. But when it's a win over your arch-rival and it clinches a first-round bye in the upcoming conference tournament, then the word memorable just doesn't do the moment justice for the RedHawks' Nick Winbush.
Behind a double-double from the senior forward and 23 points and 13 rebounds from teammate Julian Mavunga, Miami defeated Ohio, 76-66, Friday night and assured itself a No. 3 seed in next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland.
Winbush recorded his third straight double-double and eighth double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. It also was the fourth game this season Miami had two player record double-doubles in the same game.
The RedHawks committed a season-tying low nine turnovers as it swept Ohio for the first time since the 2005-06 season.Miami improved its record to 16-15 overall and 11-5 in the MAC East Division. The RedHawks will face a still undetermined opponent , the winner of the No. 6 vs. No. 11 game, on Thursday at the MAC Tournament.
"Nick got us off to a great start," said Miami head coach Charlie Coles. "We wanted to send him and Sean (Mock) and Antonio (Ballard) off with a win in their last home game."
Ohio (17-14, 9-7 MAC) brought a five-game winning streak into the game, but Miami held the Bobcats at bay throughout most of the contest. Ohio committed 26 fouls, sending Miami to the free-throw line 33 times. The RedHawks were almost flawless, converting a season-high 30 charity tosses for a .909 percentage.
Freshman point guard Quinten Rollins scored a career-high 15 points against Ohio, hitting four-of-five shots from the field, including a three-pointer, and all six of his free throws. Allen Roberts contributed eight points in the victory, while Orlando Williams and Chris McHenry scored six points each.
Ohio had four players in double figures, led by forward Ivo Baltic with 18 points.
Miami built a 36-26 halftime lead, thanks to six-for-10 shooting from behind the arc and six-for-six accuracy at the line. The RedHawks turned the ball over only once during the first 20 minutes.
Winbush scored 14 points and grabbed seven rounds in the first half to lead the Red and White.
Ohio was led in the first half by guard D.J. Cooper with eight points. The Bobcats shot only 35 percent from the field in the opening stanza, missing all five of its three-point attempts. Ohio made 10-of-13 free throw attempts in the first half to keep itself within range. OU missed nine of its first 11 shots from the field in the first half, but hit six of its remaining 12 attempts heading into halftime.
The RedHawks didn't score their first field goal until the 15:36 mark when guard Chris McHenry converted his three-pointer from the top of the key.
It was the 188th meeting between Miami and Ohio, with the RedHawks narrowing their series deficit to 97-91.
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