Terrific Defensive Effort Helps Miami Take Down Bowling Green

Saturday, January 26

Oxford, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Miami University

11-9, 3-4MAC

Bowling Green

14-6, 6-1MAC

Bowling Green

Miami (OH)

Terrific Defensive Effort Helps Miami Take Down Bowling Green

1/26/2019 6:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University men's basketball team used its best defensive effort to knock Bowling Green from the undefeated ranks of the Mid-American Conference, taking a 67-53 victory on Saturday. With their third straight win, the RedHawks improve to 11-9 overall and 3-4 in the MAC. The Falcons fall to 14-6 overall and 6-1 in the MAC.

Miami held BGSU to only 36.5 percent (19-for-52) for the game. After hitting 10 three-pointers, the Falcons were only able to make nine 2-point buckets the entire contest. Bowling Green usually scores a lot of second chance points, but only had seven total on Saturday on seven offensive rebounds. The Falcons came into the game with the fifth best rebound margin in the country and +10.2, but the RedHawks were able to win the rebounding war, 38-33.

Sophomore guard Nike Sibande was the star for the RedHawks. He finished with 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting. He also drained three 3-pointers and brought down seven rebounds.

It was a slow start offensively for both teams before a layup from sophomore forward Dalonte Brown and a dunk from Sibande gave Miami a 4-2 lead. An old-fashioned three-point play from junior forward Bam Bowman and five-straight points from redshirt sophomore guard Milos Jovic helped complete at 14-2 run that gave the RedHawks a 14-4 advantage with 11:46 to go in the half.

Here's a look at that dunk from @nike_sibande!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/4WQK0OuDOs
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 26, 2019

.@milos_jo15 for THREE!!!! pic.twitter.com/zdr0K4Hmp1
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 26, 2019

Adaway and sophomore guard Nike Sibande each hit triples to give Miami its largest lead of the period at 24-11 at the 4:10 mark. Bowling Green closed the half on an 8-0 run, so the 'Hawks took a 24-19 lead into the break.

Nice move by @DalonteBrown24!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/M1nnP2be13
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 26, 2019

No footing, no problem! Three more points for @nike_sibande!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/PL7rIA5q4J
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 26, 2019

Redshirt senior guard Abdoulaye Harouna opend the scoring in the second half with a jumper in the paint, but the Falcons answered with an 8-2 run to close within one at 28-27 with 16:11 to go. Leading 30-29 and with the shot clock expiring, Sibande nailed a triple with a guy in his face to get Miami's offense moving again. He added a fast break layup, while freshman Mekhi Lairy hit a 3-pointer as part of a 9-0 run that gave the RedHawks a 49-39 advantage at the 12:25 mark.

With the shot clock expiring, @nike_sibande reaches double figures with 12 points so far!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/yl8GHyORQM
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 26, 2019

.@King_Khi2 with the three-point shot!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/LWaWkE99ZF
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 26, 2019

Sibande kept the lead in double digits with some big baskets any time it looked like BGSU was about to go on a run. His triple at the 8:52 mark made it 48-35. The Falcons cut it to nine at 50-41, but Sibande immediately scored four straight points to increase the advantage to 54-41 with 4:20 to go. At that point senior guard Darrian Ringo drained nine free throws down the stretch to help Miami pull away for good and finish off a 67-53 victory.

Count it!! @nike_sibande sinks another basket and now has 22 points today!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/uMkpcG6kuj
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) January 26, 2019

Ringo scored nine for the RedHawks, while Jovic finished with seven. Redshirt senior forward Aleks Abrams tied Sibande for the team lead in rebounds with seven.

Miami returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Toledo. Tip time is at 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. The Kings Firecrackers will be in attendance to perform at halftime.