Miami RedHawks (8-9; 0-4 MAC) vs
Akron (10-7; 2-2 MAC)
Game 18: Saturday, January 19 • 3:30 p.m.
Millett Hall (6,400) • Oxford, Ohio
Series vs. Akron/Streak: Miami leads 31-29/MU-3
Last Meeting: Miami 64 Akron 62 (OT), February 24, 2018
TV: ESPN3 •
Steve Baker (PxP) Randy Hollowell (Color)
Radio: Miami IMG Sports Network • Terry Bridge (PxP) John McKenna (Color)
Miami IMG Sports Network Affiliates: WMOH 1450 Hamilton; WFMG 101.3 Richmond; WONE 980 Dayton
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University men's basketball team returns home Saturday as it welcomes Akron to Millett Hall. Tip time is 3:30 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN3. It is part of a tripleheader that will start with the women's basketball team taking on Ball State at 1 p.m. It concludes with the hockey team facing defending national champion Minnesota Duluth at 7:05 p.m. inside
Steve Cady Arena.
SIBANDE HAS STRONG SHOOTING PERFORMANCE: Sophomore guard
Nike Sibande had a season-high 26 points. It was his most efficient game of the season as he finished 6-for-9 from the field, including going 4-for-6 from behind the arc. Despite the high volume of points, it was tied for the fewest number of shots he attempted in a game this year. Sibande set a new career-high with 10 free throw makes to complete his performance.
ALSO CLIMBING CLOSER TO 1,000 POINTS: Sibande's 26 points against Toledo allowed him to cross the 800 point barrier for his career. He is now at 802 career points and only 198 points away from becoming the 35th player to score 1,000 points at Miami. If Sibande can accomplish it this season, he would be the first in RedHawk history to reach it as a sophomore. face Ball State at 1 p.m. and the hockey team take on Minneosta Duluth at 7:05 p.m. inside
Steve Cady Arena. An audio broadcast of the men's basketball game will be available on the RedHawk IMG Sports Network Tunein App.
ABOUT AKRON: The Zips are 10-7 overall and 2-2 in the MAC. They knocked off Eastern Michigan, 51-49, in a low-scoring affair in their last game on Tuesday. Akron has had the top defense in the MAC this season, holding opponents to only 62.1 points per game. Three players average in double figures, led by junior forward Daniel Utomi. He averages 15.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Another key player is senior guard Jimond Ivey. He averages 13.7 points and a team-leading 6.6 rebounds per contest.
THE SERIES WITH ZIPS: The RedHawks hold a 31-29 lead in the all-time series with the Zips. Miami has won three straight against Akron, including both meetings last season. On Jan. 30, 2018 in Oxford, the 'Hawks were in an early double digit hole, but stormed back and pulled away to take a 79-64 win.
Dalonte Brown led five in double figures with 17 points. On Feb. 24, 2018 in Akron, Miami was able to score only 17 first half points as it battled through significant shooting woes. Trailing the entirety of the second half, a layup at the buzzer by
Darrian Ringo sent the game into overtime tied at 51. The RedHawks fell behind by six in the extra session before going on a 10-0 run to take control en route to a 64-62 victory.
Logan McLane led Miami with 23 points in that contest.
UP AHEAD: Miami makes the quick trip to Muncie, Indiana to take on Ball State next Tuesday. Tip time is 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast of the game will be available on the RedHawk IMG Sports Network Tunein App.
