Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
3-2
Tulane
5-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 30 | 29 | 59 |
| Tulane | 37 | 43 | 80 |
Men's Basketball Falls to Tulane, 80-59
11/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" Freshman guard Nike Sibande had a breakout performance, scoring a career-high 21 points on Wednesday, but Tulane was able to pull away in the second half to take an 80-59 victory over the Miami University basketball team. The RedHawks fall to 3-2 on the season, while the Green Wave improve to 5-0.
Sibande finished 7-for-11 from the field and was 4-for-7 from behind the arc in 21 minutes of action. He was joined in double figures by senior forward Logan McLane, who finished with 10.
Despite buckets from freshman forward Dalonte Brown and freshman guard Isaiah Coleman-Lands, a slow start for Miami offensively saw Tulane build a 12-4 lead to begin the first half. A triple from Sibande got the 'Hawks offense moving, but the Green Wave eventually pushed the advantage to 20-9 with 10:11 remaining in the period.
McLane hit a pair of layups to pull Miami to within nine, but Tulane would go back in front by double digits at the five minute mark. A triple from senior forward Rod Mills Jr. began a strong run to close out the first half. A pair of free throws from McLane and junior guard Darrian Ringo made it a five-point game at 32-27 with 3:09 to go. The Green Wave followed with a three-pointer and a jumper, but two more free throws from Ringo and one from redshirt junior guard Jake Wright sent the RedHawks into the break trailing, 37-30.
Sibande found freshman guard Jalen Adaway for a dunk to open the second half. After Tulane answered with a jump shot, a three-pointer from Sibande pulled the RedHawks to within four at 39-35 with 18:34 to go. Miami continued to keep the score close with Coleman-Lands putting in a layup and Sibande draining a jumper that made it 44-39 at the 16:26 mark.
Miami went on a scoring drought over the next three minutes, and Tulane took advantage with an 11-0 stretch that put it in control at 55-39 at the 13:08 mark. Sibande had one more run in him as he answered with eight points in a row on two triples and a layup that cut the deficit to eight at 55-47 with 10:50 to go. A bucket from Mills at the 9:14 mark would again make it an eight-point game at 57-49, but the Green Wave followed with a 14-2 run that would put the contest away en route to their 80-59 win.
Mills had a team-leading six rebounds for Miami, while Ringo finished with seven assists. Tulane had a strong night from the field, shooting 53.2 percent (33-for-62) compared to 38.8 percent (19-for-49) for the RedHawks. The Green Wave were led by Melvin Frazier with 20 points.
Miami returns to action on Sunday when it travels to Austin Peay. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. (EST) and it will air live on the OVC Digital Network.
