Miami University
8-9, 0-4MAC
Toledo
14-3, 2-2MAC
Toledo Pulls Away from Miami Late to Take 71-59 Win
1/15/2019 9:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sibande scores season-high 26 points for RedHawks
Sophomore guard Nike Sibande had a strong game, finishing with a season-high 26 points. He was an efficient 6-for-9 from the field and also had four 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Dalonte Brown, playing in his hometown of Toledo for the first time in his collegiate career also scored in double figures with 10 points.
Brown provided all of Miami's offense early. A couple of layups and a three-pointer gave him eight quick points and gave the RedHawks an 8-7 lead with 14:27 to go. MU's offense went cold as the Rockets went on a 19-2 run over the next eight minutes to take a 26-10 advantage at the 6:36 mark.
The steal leads to the and-1 bucket for Toledo native Dalonte Brown!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 16, 2019
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The triple for Dalonte Brown puts us in front 8-7!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 16, 2019
Watch Live: https://t.co/Xt5PLD6qc6 pic.twitter.com/L93UBC87j2
Sibande provided a spark to help pull Miami closer as the teams approached halftime. Three triples, plus three free throws after being fouled on another 3-pointer were part of a 12-5 run that cut the deficit to 31-22 with 3:49 to go. Toledo answered with a triple, but redshirt sophomore forward Precious Ayah found sophomore guard Jalen Adaway for the dunk. Then jumpers by freshman guard Mekhi Lairy and Sibande got the deficit under double digits at 39-30 as the teams went into the locker rooms.
Deep 3 by @nike_sibande ends the Toledo run!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 16, 2019
Watch Live: https://t.co/Xt5PLD6qc6 pic.twitter.com/W9qRMO4SdA
The bucket from @nike_sibande gets it under double digits going into the break!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 16, 2019
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Sibande had 14 points in the first half, while Brown scored eight. The Red and White shot 39.3 percent (11-for-28), while the Rockets hit 46.7 percent (14-for-30) of their shots.
The RedHawks picked up their defensive intensity to start the second half as they began to press Toledo in the backcourt. That seemed to help ignite their offense as a dunk from Brown and a jumper by senior guard Darrian Ringo made it 41-35. The Rockets answered with a triple, but some free throws and a driving layup by redshirt sophomore guard Milos Jovic pulled Miami to within three at 44-41 at the 13:56 mark.
Dalonte Brown slams it down with authority!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 16, 2019
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The layup from @milos_jo15 and its a 3-point game!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 16, 2019
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The teams began trading buckets as the 'Hawks looked to tie the score. A jumper from Lairy and a layup by junior forward Bam Bowman made it a one-point game at 49-48. After the Rockets scored next Lairy hit another jumper to make it 51-50. Trailing by four, Lairy hit one more bucket from the insider center of the paint to cut the deficit to 54-52 with 7:06 remaining.
At this point Toledo's offense started to perk up as Miami went cold from the floor. An 8-0 run by the Rockets made it 62-52. Sibande answered with a pair of free throws and a jumper cut the lead to 62-56 with 4:36 to go, but that was as close as the RedHawks would get. UT closed the game on a 9-3 run to finish off a 71-59 victory.
Miami shot 39.2 percent (20-for-51) for the game, while Toledo hit 42.9 percent (27-for-63) of its shots. Lairy scored eight points for the 'Hawks, while Bowman finished with six.
The RedHawks return to action on Saturday when they host Akron. Tip time is at 3:30 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN3. It is part of a tripleheader that will see the women's basketball team take on Ball State at 1 p.m. The hockey team will face off against defending national champion Minnesota Duluth at 7:05 p.m. inside Steve Cady Arena.
