Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
Missouri
RedHawks Fall to Tigers, 81-55
12/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Slow starts in both halves led the Miami University men's basketball team to an 81-55 defeat on the road at Missouri on Tuesday. The RedHawks fall to 4-5 on the season, while the Tigers improve to 5-3.
Neither team shot very well during the contest as Miami finished 18-for-57 (30.5 percent) from the field, while Missouri was 25-for-67 (37.3 percent). The RedHawks committed 28 personal fouls, allowing the Tigers to finish 22-for-31 from the free throw line, draining 16 from the charity stripe in the second half.
Miami was led in scoring by freshman guard Michael Weathers and junior forward Logan McLane with 12 points each. Freshman forward Bruno Solomun had a breakout game, finishing with 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes of action. Freshman forward Marcus Weathers also had 11 points and six rebounds for the `Hawks.
On Miami's opening possession redshirt sophomore guard Jake Wright found McLane down low for an easy layup. The RedHawks offense struggled from there, not scoring a point over the next 9:03. During that stretch, the Tigers went on a 16-0 run to take a 16-2 lead.
A three-pointer from Michael Weathers got Miami's offense going again. With Missouri on top 19-7, a three-pointer from Wright sparked an 18-6 run from the Red and White that put it on top, 25-23. During the run, McLane hit a jumper, while his three-pointer gave the RedHawks the lead. The Tigers hit a triple of their own in the final seconds of the half to take the lead back going into the break at 26-25.
Similar to the first half, Miami's offense was cold to begin the second frame. Mizzou took advantage with a 24-5 run to take a 50-30 with 13:57 to go. A jumper from Marcus Weathers ended the stretch, but the Tigers built their biggest lead of 58-36 with 9:30 remaining in the half.
Trailing 60-39, the RedHawks were not quite done as back-to-back three pointers from Wright and McLane and a jumper from Michael Weathers were part of an 8-0 run that pulled Miami to within 13 at 60-47. Two free throws from Solomun made it only a 12-point deficit at 62-50 with 6:10 to go. That would be as the `Hawks would get as Missouri went on a 10-0 run that put the game out of reach.
Wright had eight points and five rebounds for the RedHawks. Missouri was led by sophomore forward Kevin Puryear with 19 points. The Tigers held a 50-44 advantage on the boards.
Miami looks to get back on the winning track as it hosts IUPUI on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. It is part of a tripleheader that will see the women's basketball team take on Northwood at 1 p.m. and the hockey team host Colorado College at Goggin at 7:05 p.m.
