Jan. 28, 2012
Box Score
Western Michigan 73, Miami 64 
Press Conference Video
KALAMAZOO, Michigan--Despite a barrage of three-pointers -- 15 in total -- the Miami University men's basketball team (5-14, 1-6 Mid-American Conference) fell, 73-64, to the Western Michigan Broncos (10-11, 4-3 MAC) Saturday afternoo. Freshman guard Brian Sullivan led the RedHawks with 20 points, including six treys.
The 15 3-pointers for Miami tied for the second-most in a single game in school history.
Aside from Sullivan, senior forward Julian Mavunga also reached double figures in scoring with 19 points. Combined with his 10 rebounds, it was his 11th double-double on the season and 25th for his career.
Western Michigan's Flenard Whitfield led all scorers with 22 points, which tied his season high.
Miami got off to a 9-8 lead in the first six minutes of the game thanks to 3-pointers from Mavunga, Sullivan and sophomore forward Jon Harris. The hot start from behind the arc set the tone for the RedHawks for the rest of the half.
The Miami lead reached six points, 21-15, midway through the half. All 12 of those points came from long range with Sullivan adding six points and the other six coming from sophomore guard Josh Sewell. Western Michigan, however, rattled off a 14-0 scoring run just minutes later to take the lead, 34-24.
The 3-ball saved the RedHawks, however, as they continued to drain their shots from long distance. Miami closed the gap to head into halftime trailing by one point, 36-35. Other than two free throws from Mavunga, all RedHawk points came courtesy of the three-pointer. Sewell, Harris and freshman guard Will Sullivan each added one trey while Mavunga chipped in three. Brian Sullivan drained all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half.
Mavunga opened up the scoring for the second half by making one of his two free throws to tie the game at 36-36. A jumper by Brian Sullivan at the 18:13 mark gave the RedHawks a two-point edge, and it also signified Miami's first two-point field goal of the game.
Western Michigan broke the tie with a pair of free throws from Shayne Whittington, and from there the Broncos started to distance themselves a little, taking a 52-40 lead with 13:32 remaining. Using a familiar weapon, the 3-pointer, the RedHawks fought back to within five, 58-53, with 7:15 left in the game. Brian and Will Sullivan, in addition to Sewell, provided the treys.
The Broncos held strong, however, and never relinquished their lead, bringing the final score to 73-64. Aside from their 15 treys on the afternoon, the RedHawks only turned the ball over six times, their lowest mark on the season.
Miami takes the court next on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at home against Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m.
