Miami Edged by Montana in Final Seconds

Saturday, November 17

Nassau, Bahamas

5:00 p.m.

Miami University

2-2

Montana

4-0

Miami (OH)

Montana

11/17/2018 8:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Montana Box (PDF)

The RedHawks and Grizzlies were tied with six seconds to play.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Miami men's basketball team (2-2) was edged by Montana in the final seconds of the game by a 73-71 margin in the semifinals of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase. Nike Sibande, Jalen Adaway, Dalonte Brown and Bam Bowman all put up double digits, with Sibande leading the way with 15 points.

Miami and Montana went back-and-forth with fouls the whole first half with both teams reaching the double bonus with more than six minutes to play in the first half.

The RedHawks took the first lead of the game with a pair of free throws from Bowman, but the Grizzlies took the lead back with fast-break points. Montana led by an 8-4 margin at the first media timeout just four minutes into the game.

After the media timeout, Miami sunk three from the line to bring the RedHawks within one before a layup from Jalen Adaway on a fast break gave Miami a 9-8 lead. The teams would be tied at nine points apiece and 11 points apiece before Montana sank its first from behind the arc to lead by three (14-11) at the second media timeout with under 12 to play in the first half.

Miami and Montana traded a pair of points before the RedHawks went on a 7-0 run, starting with a hard drive by Abdoulaye Harouna.

.@Youngmamba31 drives hard to the basket and sinks it!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/QskO7AlSa3
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 17, 2018

After Miami's run, it held a 20-16 lead with 8:28 remaining in the first half. The teams traded buckets to go into the media timeout with a 22-18 RedHawks lead.

Miami jumped out to a seven-point lead before five-straight Montana free throws brought the score to 27-25 with 4:50 left to play in the first half. The RedHawks entered halftime with a 33-32 lead.

The Red and White started the second half with a 7-0 run in the first three minutes of play to increase the lead to 40-32. Montana sunk a couple from behind the arc and added a field goal to cut Miami's lead to one midway through the second half.

Brown put down a dunk to bring the score to 48-45 before the Grizzlies tied the game at 48 with another three-pointer.

.@DalonteBrown24 DUNK!! Miami leads 48-45!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/vhcdMNawLn
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 17, 2018

The lead changed three times in the next three minutes of play before Brown tied the game at 55 with two free throws with six minutes to play. Montana took the lead next before a strong play from Bowman under the basket drew the foul and gave Miami the lead back.

AND 1! Bam Bowman completes the three-point play and Miami leads by 2!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/AIUCdqGmFW
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 17, 2018

The RedHawks increased their lead to 68-62 on a three-point play from Brown as he drew a foul on the offensive rebound.

.@DalonteBrown24 puts in work under the basket to draw a foul and completes the three-point play at the line. Miami leads 67-62.#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/RzSncKRMEj
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 18, 2018

The Grizzlies clawed back within one point with back-to-back baskets from behind the arc. The RedHawks had a 69-68 lead with 1:50 to play. With 12 seconds to play, Montana took a 71-69 lead but Miami drove down the court to tie the game at 71 with six seconds remaining.

A RedHawks foul put the Grizzlies at the free throw line with 1.2 seconds to play and the Grizzlies sunk both, bringing the final score to 73-71.

Miami will face Pepperdine Sunday in the third place game of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase at 5 p.m.