Nov. 24, 2015
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OXFORD, Ohio - A tough shooting performance and 14 turnovers sealed the fate for Miami University's men's basketball team as they fell 57-53 to the IPFW Mastodons Tuesday night at Millett Hall. The Mastodons (4-1) used a 14-2 run in the second half to take a back-and-forth affair from the RedHawks (3-3).
Senior guards Geovonie McKnight and Eric Washington led Miami scorers with 10 points in the contest. Sophomore forward Rod Mills was active on the boards with a career-high 10 rebounds while Washington posted four assists. Sophomore guard Abdoulaye Harouna made both of Miami's 3-pointers on the night as the RedHawks shot only 36.7 percent from the field. The RedHawks did grab 42 rebounds and racked up 13 second-chance points.
Both teams combined for 31 turnovers, although Miami led IPFW, 14-8, in points off of them. The Mastodons blocked nine Miami shots, as opposed to one by the RedHawks.
Turnovers defined the opening half of the game as both teams struggled to put points on the scoreboard. Miami finally broke through with a 3-pointer by Harouna at the 17:00 mark. Each team traded baskets until a layup by sophomore Logan McLane put the RedHawks up 11-8 with 12:35 remaining. A pair of IPFW runs gave them a 21-17 lead with 2:53 left to play in the period, but Miami rebounded to tie the game at 22 at the half.
Senior forward Jere Vucica led Miami scorers in the first with six points, while fellow senior Geovonie McKnight added four. Senior forward LJ Livingston grabbed four of Miami's 17 rebounds in the period. As a team, the RedHawks shot 34.6 percent from the field, but could only muster one 3-pointer.
The RedHawks started the second half with improved shooting, building a 31-24 lead at the 14:41 mark following a Vucica layup and the second 3-pointer of the game by Harouna. The Mastodons proceeded to answer with a 14-2 run that gave them a 39-35 lead with 9:04 remaining in the game. Miami would tie the game two minutes later, but a pair of baskets by senior guard Max Landis continued to fuel IPFW's advantage. A jumper by Mills gave Miami its final lead of the game at 47-46 with 1:48 left, but IPFW was able to pull away with clutch baskets and strong free throw shooting. The RedHawks closed to within one point with 20 seconds to go, but IPFW hit its free throws down the stretch to lock up the victory.
Miami will now turn its attention to a matchup with the UCF Knights on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 1:30 p.m. at Millett Hall.
