Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
2-19-7; MAC
Kent State
1-27-9; MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State | 25 | 44 | 69 |
| Miami | 48 | 32 | 80 |
Big First Half Run Leads Miami to 80-69 Win
1/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Ohio -- The Miami University men's basketball team went on an offensive explosion in the first half to jump to a 29 point lead, and then held on for an 80-69 victory over Kent State Tuesday. The RedHawks improve to 9-7 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Golden Flashes fall to 7-9 overall and 1-2 in the MAC.
Miami shot 51.8 percent (29-for-56) for the game, including a blistering 40.0 percent (10-for-25) from behind the arc. Freshman guard Nike Sibande led a balanced scoring effort with 17 points. Junior guard Darrian Ringo was right behind him with 16 points, and he also dished out seven assists.
McLane from downtown! Nifty fake pass to set up the wide-open look.
Watch live: https://t.co/OAgmGm5Tg6 pic.twitter.com/cmaCsBz3s1-- MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 10, 2018
It took a couple of minutes for the Red and White offense to get going, but once they did they went on one of their best runs of the season. A layup and a three-pointer by senior forward Logan McLane made it 9-3. Sibande had a layup, while a jumper and a three-pointer by Ringo gave Miami an 18-5 advantage with 11:55 left in the half.
RINGO FOR THREE! Miami leads, 18-5, with under 12 minutes to go in the opening half.
Watch live: https://t.co/OAgmGm5Tg6 pic.twitter.com/8qEDJSEFoR-- MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 10, 2018
Kent State hit a three-pointer to pull it to within 10 before the RedHawks were able to blow the contest open. Back-to-back-to-back threes from senior forward Rod Mills Jr., sophomore forward Bam Bowman and redshirt junior guard Jake Wright began an 18-0 run that made it 36-8 at the 6:51 mark. An old-fashioned three-point play by freshman forward Dalonte Brown on a tip-in gave the `Hawks their largest advantage at 39-10. The Golden Flashes went on a bit of a run to cut into the lead, but a three-pointer by Ringo, a jumper by Sibande and a layup at the buzzer from Ringo sent Miami into the break with a 48-25 lead.
Mills takes the post feed and finds the big man, Bam Bowman, who hits from beyond the arc! It's now 29-8 Miami with 8:41 to go in the first half. Full timeout for Kent State.
Watch live: https://t.co/OAgmGm5Tg6 pic.twitter.com/NIy9H5cKNI-- MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 10, 2018
The RedHawks are on 🔥🔥
This Nike Sibande three is part of a 18-0 run that has Miami in front of Kent State, 36-8, with 6:33 left on the clock in the first half.
Watch live: https://t.co/OAgmGm5Tg6 pic.twitter.com/dgF0D61W5j-- MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 10, 2018
Ringo led the `Hawks in the first half with 12 points. Miami shot 54.1 percent (20-for-37) from the field during the period, while holding Kent State to 30.0 percent (9-for-30) shooting.
Ringo lays it in as time expires in the first half!
Watch live: https://t.co/OAgmGm5Tg6 pic.twitter.com/ssoc8tqTjT-- MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 10, 2018
A layup by McLane and a three-pointer from Sibande helped extend the advantage to 54-29 with 17:28 to go. The Golden Flashes pulled to within 20, but another three-pointer made it 58-35 at the 14:43 mark. After a Mills jumper pushed it back to 25, a 7-0 KSU run began their comeback attempt.
Isaiah Coleman-Lands hits from deep as the shot clock expires!
Watch live: https://t.co/OAgmGm5Tg6 pic.twitter.com/sSvO5XVu0i-- MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 10, 2018
The teams traded baskets as the RedHawks continued to score to keep the Flashes from getting closer. A layup by Ringo made it a 19 point contest at 69-50 with 7:11 to go. At that point Kent State was able to go on a 17-6 run to get the lead under double digits at 75-67 at the 1:24 mark. That would be as close as it could get as Miami refocused and hit five of its next six free throws to secure the 80-69 win.
Freshman forward Jalen Adaway scored nine points for the RedHawks, while Mills, Bowman and Brown each finished with eight. McLane had seven points and a team-high nine rebounds. Kent State was led by Adonis De La Rosa with 16 points.
Miami returns to the road on Saturday when it travels to Buffalo. Tip time is 2 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN3.
Here is a look back at tonight's game via our Snapchat story!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/6Y6jc5dXMx
- MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 10, 2018
