Jan. 25, 2012
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
Toledo 63, Miami 61 
OXFORD, Ohio--Miami closed a nine-point deficit with under five minutes left to just two, but could never gain the lead in a 63-61 loss to Toledo Wednesday night at Millett Hall.
Senior forward Julian Mavunga posted his 10th double-double of the season -- and 24th of his career -- with 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the RedHawks. The senior from Indianapolis added four assists to his stats line, while freshman guard Brian Sullivan added 13 points. Toledo's Rian Pearson led all scorers with 23 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds. Curtis Dennis was the only other Rocket in double figures with 17 points.
Pearson got things started with a couple of quick baskets to give the Rockets (10-10, 2-4) a 5-0 lead. It wasn't until sophomore guard Josh Sewell nailed a 3-pointer that the RedHawks got on the board, making the score 8-3.
Miami (5-13, 1-5) came within three points after Mavunga grabbed back-to-back offensive rebounds and followed through with a three-point play to make the score 12-9 with 13:52 left in the half. Toledo promptly went on another 7-0 scoring run to extend its lead to 19-9, its largest lead of the game up to that point.
Miami answered right back with six unanswered points, highlighted by a tip-in from senior forward Adam Thomas, to make the score 19-15 with 7:40 remaining in the half. The streakiness continued as the Rockets proceeded to rattle off a 9-0 run to move ahead 28-15. Brian Sullivan ended the four-minute scoring drought for the RedHawks with a shot from downtown, but Toledo's Matt Smith knocked down a 3-pointer of his own, making the score 31-18 with 3:22 left in the opening half.
A second 3-pointer from Sullivan sparked an 8-0 run for the RedHawks to end the half, leaving the score 33-27 in favor of the Rockets. Pearson led all scorers with 11 first-half points.
Miami got off to a fast start in the second half, tying the game at 33-33 after a trey from sophomore forward Jon Harris and a three-point play from sophomore guard Quinten Rollins. The level score was the first time all game that the RedHawks had held a share of the lead. After trading baskets and re-tying the score at 37-37, Toledo started to pull away with eight straight points for a 45-37 lead with 11:07 left in the game.
Again, the RedHawks fought back and cut the Toledo lead to three, 51-48, on a 3-pointer from freshman guard Will Sullivan at the 7:13 mark. A scoring surge by the Rockets put them back up by nine, but Miami would not quit and brought itself within two, 58-56, with 2:28 left on a layup from Mavunga. His rebound on the opposite end of the floor gave him 10 on the game and secured the double-double.
Harris knocked down a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to bring the RedHawks within two, 63-61. After forcing a turnover, the RedHawks had a chance to tie, but they were unable to get a shot off.
Miami's next game is Saturday at 4 p.m. against the Western Michigan Broncos in Kalamazoo.
