NKU Takes Narrow Victory Over Miami, 72-66

Sunday, December 16

Highland Heights, Ky.

7:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

Northern Kentucky

NKU Takes Narrow Victory Over Miami, 72-66

12/16/2018 9:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score NKU Box (PDF)

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – It was a tight battle throughout that saw neither team build a lead of more than seven points, but a late run by Northern Kentucky allowed it to escape with a 72-66 victory on Sunday. The RedHawks fall to 6-5, while the Norse improve to 9-3.

In its first game in eight days, Miami struggled from the field, finishing 20-for-51 (39.2 percent). The Red and White were 6-for-25 (24.0 percent) from behind the arc. The RedHawks did shoot a season-best 20-for-22 (90.9 percent) from the free throw line.

Back-to-back buckets by sophomore guard Nike Sibande quickly put Miami on top, 4-0. NKU tied the score at eight, but back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore forward Dalonte Brown and sophomore guard Isaiah Coleman-Lands gave the RedHawks a 14-8 advantage, and it was followed by an an old-fashioned three-point play from redshirt senior guard Abdoulaye Harouna that made it 17-10 with 12:00 to go in the half.

Freshman forward Elijah McNamara drained a triple to give Miami a 20-13 lead at the 10:38 mark. The Norse went on a 9-2 run over the next four minutes to tie the score at 22. Senior guard Jalen Adaway found sophomore guard Jalen Adaway to put the Red and White back in front with 6:09 to go.

Northern Kentucky took a 31-29 lead with 2:21 left in the period. A triple from Coleman-Lands gave it back to Miami before it changed hands once again on a Norse layup. Harouna hit a pair of free throws to send the RedHawks into the break with a 34-33 advantage.

There were 10 lead changes during the first half. Harouna led Miami with eight points in the period.

NKU opened the second half on an 8-3 run to take a 42-37 lead. Junior forward Bam Bowman stopped the run with a layup, but the Norse were able to build their largest lead of seven points at 46-39 with 13:48 to go.

Layups from freshman guard Mekhi Lairy and redshirt senior forward Aleks Abrams, plus a dunk from Sibande were part of a 9-4 run that pulled Miami within two. The RedHawks then took a one-point lead at 51-50 with 9:22 to go when Sibande drained all three free throws after being fouled behind the arc.

The Norse answered with a key 12-4 run over the next five minutes to regain the seven-point advantage at 62-55 with 4:20 to go. Miami did not give up as a three-pointer and a layup from Ringo, and a dunk by Brown cut the lead to two points at 66-64 at the 1:08 mark. However, Northern Kentucky would go on to hit all six of its free throws in the final minute to finish off the 72-66 win.

Sibande led the RedHawks with 13 points, while Brown finished with 12 and Harouna had 10. Ringo had seven points, six assists and two steals for Miami, while Abrams recorded three blocks. Drew McDonald led NKU with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

The RedHawks return to action on Thursday when they host South Carolina State. Tip time is 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+.