Miami RedHawks (3-3) vs. Xavier Musketeers (3-3)
Game 7: Wednesday, November 28  •  6:30 p.m.
Cintas Center (10,224) • Cincinnati, Ohio
Series vs. Xavier/ Streak: Xavier leads 53-48
Last Meeting: Xavier 81 Miami 72, Nov. 13, 2015
TV: Fox Sports 1 • Steve Physioc (PxP) Stephen Bardo (Color)
Radio: Miami IMG Sports Network • Steve Baker (PxP) Terry Bridge (Color)
Miami IMG Sports Network Affiliates: WMOH 1450 Hamilton; WFMG 101.3 Richmond; WONE 980 Dayton
 
CINCINNATI - For the second time this season, the Miami University men's basketball team will be showcased on national television as it makes the short trip to Xavier on Wednesday. Tip time is 6:30 p.m. and it will air live on Fox Sports 1, with an audio broadcast available on Miami College Sports Live from IMG College.

BOWMAN CONSISTENT DOWN LOW: Junior forward Bam Bowman has started all six game for Miami and is becoming the low post presence that the RedHawks want him to be. That was apparent in the win over Army on Saturday, where he scored 18 points on 9-for-11 shooting. All nine of his buckets came in the paint. Bowman ranks fourth on Miami, averaging 8.5 points per game.

FREE THROWS GOING IN: While the sample size is still small, the RedHawks have the makings of a very good free throw shooting team. In six games, Miami is 85-for-107 from the line, or 79.4 percent. That is far ahead of the school record for an entire season, which is 76.5 percent set by the Sweet 16 team of 1999.

ABRAMS WITH THE BOARDS OF THE BENCH: Redshirt senior Aleks Abrams was brought to Miami with the main purpose of being a rebounder off the bench. He has fulfilled that role well that past few games, capped off by bringing in a season-high nine caroms in the win over Army on Saturday. Abrams is second on the RedHawks averaging 4.5 rebounds per game.

ABOUT XAVIER: After a dream season that saw them go 29-6 and earn a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Musketeers entered the 2018-19 season having to replace their top three scorers plus their head coach. So far they are 3-3 having played a very challenging schedule. Last week they went to Hawaii for the annual Maui Invitational. Xavier dropped a first round game to eighth-ranked Auburn, 88-79 on Nov. 19. It fell to San Diego State, 79-74, the next day. The Musketeers rebounded with an 83-74 win in the seventh place game over Illinois last Wednesday. Xavier has a very balanced offense that features regular contributions from nine different players. Its leading scorer is junior guard Quentin Goodin, who averages 15.0 points per game.

THE SERIES WITH XAVIER: Xavier holds a 53-48 lead in the all-time series with Miami and has won the last three meetings. This is the first game between the schools since the 2015-16 season opener on Nov. 13, 2015. It was tight throughout as the RedHawks closed to within one at 61-60 with 6:57 remaining. The Musketeers would answer with a 10-0 run to pull away and eventually take an 81-72 victory. Eric Washington led Miami with 19 points. 

MIAMI VS. BIG EAST: The Big East is made up of 10 private schools, each of which is either a historic basketball power or has emerged as one in the past 25 years. Miami holds a 54-79 record against schools currently in the Big East, with a great majority of those games having been against Xavier. In addition to their 48-53 record against Xavier, the RedHawks are 1-12 vs. Butler, 1-0 vs. Creighton, 3-5 vs. DePaul, 0-1 vs. Georgetown, 1-6 vs. Marquette and 1-1 vs. St. John's. Miami has never faced Providence, Seton Hall or Villanova.

UP AHEAD: Miami returns home Saturday as it welcomes Wilberforce to Millett Hall. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+.