Box Score Feb. 17, 2018 Box Score
Box Score (PDF) 
ATHENS, Ohio ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" For the second consecutive game the Miami University men's basketball team found itself down by double digits in the second half before making a furious comeback. This time the RedHawks were able to force overtime. Miami took a four point lead in the extra session, but Ohio was able to answer with an 11-2 finish to take a 92-87 victory on Saturday. The RedHawks fall to 13-14 overall and 6-8 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats improve to 11-15 overall and 4-10 in the MAC.
Ohio led by as many as 15 points early in the second half before the Miami offensive attack led by freshman guard Nike Sibande got it back into it. He tied a career-high with 22 points and brought in a career-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double. He becomes the seventh different RedHawk to record a double-double this year, which is the most in all of NCAA Division I.
Junior guard Darrian Ringo and freshman forward Dalonte Brown each played key roles for Miami Saturday. Brown hit several key three-pointers early and finished with 16 points. Ringo took over during the second half, scoring 16 points and dishing out nine assists.
The Red and White were hurt by 16 turnovers, but were able to at least keep that category even by forcing 16 Bobcat turnovers. Miami had 14 steals, with Sibande, Ringo and freshman guard Isaiah Coleman-Lands each picking Ohio's pocket three times.
The RedHawks came out firing to begin the first half as Brown, sophomore forward Bam Bowman and Sibande each drained three-pointers to stake Miami to a 9-2 lead at the 18:14 mark. Ohio was hot from the field as well to quickly get back into it, but another three from Sibande followed by two from senior forward Rod Mills Jr. put the Red and White on top 18-17 with 12:49 to go in the period.
Miami went on a scoring drought, scoring only two points over the next eight minutes as the Bobcats used a 14-2 run to take a 31-22 lead. Ringo ended the drought with a steal and a layup, but seven points in a row gave Ohio its largest first half lead at 38-24 with 2:49 to go.
Brown helped get the 'Hawks back into it before the break. He drained a shot from behind the arc before scoring an old-fashioned three-point play on the next possession. A triple from freshman guard Coleman-Lands cut it to five at 38-33 with 50 seconds to go. The teams traded scores before the Bobcats banked in a three at the buzzer to go into the half with a 43-35 lead.
Miami shot 38.7 percent (12-for-31) from the field during the first half, while the Bobcats hit 60.7 percent (17-for-28). The RedHawks were able to stay in it with the help of eighth 3-point makes, along with seven steals that they turned into 13 points. Brown led Miami with nine points during the period.
Despite a pair of layups for Ringo it was a rough start for the 'Hawks to begin the second half. Ohio went on an 11-4 run to build its largest lead of 54-39 with 16:11 to go. Sibande answered with a layup on Miami's next possession. He was fouled and converted the free throw for an old fashioned three-point play to end the run.
Trailing 61-46, a three-pointer by Brown at the 12:46 mark began the RedHawk comeback. A layup from Ringo, another three from Brown and a layup by senior forward Logan McLane cut it to seven at 63-56 with 8:49 to go.
Ohio got the lead back up to as many as 10 before a triple from Ringo cut it to six at 70-64 at the 5:46 mark. The Bobcats again pushed the advantage to 10 before two free throws from Bowman and a three-pointer from freshman guard Jalen Adaway cut the deficit to five. After an OU bucket, a triple from Sibande made it 78-74 with 2:48 remaining.
Ringo hit a free throw, and on the next Ohio possession Bowman made a great steal in the backcourt and went the length of the court for the layup that pulled the RedHawks to within one at 78-77. The Bobcats made one free throw to make the lead two. With 10 seconds remaining Miami took a three for the win, but it bounced off the rim. Sibande collected the rebound and was fouled with 2.4 seconds left. He calmly drained both free throws to send the game into overtime.
It started out real well in the extra session for the RedHawks as Ringo found Bowman down low for the layup that gave Miami its first lead since it was 18-17. Another layup from Bowman followed, and after OU scored, Ringo found Mills for a layup that made it 85-81 with 3:06 to go.
The RedHawks offense finally cooled off after that furious rally. The Bobcats scored five in a row to take the lead back. Sibande drained two free throws to make it 87-86 with 1:19 to go, but that would be the final time Miami scored. A layup from Jordan Dartis with 49 seconds remaining put the Bobcats on top for good, and they hit their free throws over the last couple of possessions to secure the 92-87 victory.
Bowman had 11 points for the 'Hawks, while Mills finished with eight. Miami shot 41.7 percent (30-for-72) from the field and 13-for-37 (35.1 percent) from behind the arc for the contest, while Ohio shot 52.2 percent (35-for-67) for the game. The Bobcats held a slight 40-38 edge in rebounding and were led by Dartis with 23 points.
Miami returns home on Tuesday when it welcomes Buffalo to Millett Hall. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN3.
