Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
Delaware
RedHawk Comeback Falls Seconds Short in Loss to Delaware
11/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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OXFORD, Ohio - Freshman Michael Weathers' 75-foot heave caught nothing but net, but was deemed after the buzzer as Miami University suffered a 68-66 loss to Delaware on day one of the Tarkett Sports Classic at Millett Hall. The RedHawks fall to 1-2 on the season, while the Blue Hens improve to 2-1.
Delaware went to the charity stripe, holding a slim 67-66 lead with 3.3 seconds remaining, connecting on the first free throw, but a wayward second attempt pin-balled off of several players before Michael Weathers could gather the errant shot with little time to spare. His Hail Mary attempt was ruled late and the Blue Hens walked away with the victory.
While Michael Weathers' final shot was disallowed, his overall performance on Friday night was impressive. The freshman point guard recorded a game-high 24 points and added seven rebounds, six assists and just three turnovers in 29 minutes of action.
Joining the point guard in double figures was redshirt sophomore guard Jake Wright, who scored 11 points, all in the first half. Wright added four rebounds. Redshirt junior guard Dion Wade collected eight points and six rebounds off the bench.
Delaware opened the game on a 16-9 run with the help of four 3-pointers in the first five minutes of action. Wright kept it close early with nine points, including a three-pointer as he worked off a screen. A Wade three-pointer got Miami as close as 20-19, but the Blue Hens extended its lead to 35-29 at the half.
Delaware maintained its advantage and stretched it to seven points at the midway point of the second half, but a Michael Weathers triple from the top of the key cut the Blue Hens lead to just four points with 8:31 to play.
Michael Weathers continued his hot shooting, connecting on a pair of free throws and then scored a field goal on a nifty move to the basket to get Miami within two at 51-49 with 6:30 remaining in the contest.
A 6-1 run by the Blue Hens in the next two minutes of action pushed the lead back to seven at 57-50 causing head coach John Cooper to call a timeout with 4:15 remaining.
Wade made his second bucket from behind the arc to get the Red and White to within four at 59-54 and added a dunk with 51 seconds to play as Miami trailed 61-58. A Michael Weathers three-point play with 24 seconds remaining spotted Delaware a 62-61 advantage.
Following two UD free throws, Rod Mills connected on a triple to knot the score at 64 apiece, but Delaware answered with a three pointer of its own to go up 67-64 with 5.2 seconds to play.
Weathers' connected on two free throws as Miami trailed by just a single point, but Delaware made one of two free throws for the final 68-66 score.
Overall, Miami made 22-of-50 shots and were 15-of-22 from the free throw line. Delaware held a slight 37-31 edge in rebounding.
Miami returns to action tomorrow afternoon (Nov. 19) at 3:30 p.m. versus Austin Peay in day two of the Tarkett Sports Classic at Millett Hall. The contest will be carried by ESPN3.
