Miami RedHawks (3-1; 0-0 MAC) vs. Drake Bulldogs (4-1; 0-0 MVC)
Game 5: Monday, November 25 • 1:30 p.m.
Hertz Arena (6,400) • Oxford, Ohio
Series vs. Drake/Streak: Drake leads 1-0/Drake-1
Last Meeting: Drake 62 Miami 44 Dec. 26, 1986
TV: FloSports • Spence Siegel (PxP) Matthew Peterson (Color)
Radio: Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner • Steve Baker (PxP) Terry Bridge (Color)
Miami Sports Network Affiliates: WMOH 1450 Hamilton; WFMG 101.3 Richmond; WDBZ 1230 AM/101.5 FM Cincinnati
 
ESTERO, Fla. - The Miami University men's basketball team is in sunny Southwest Florida for the Gulf Coast Showcase. This eight-team bracketed tournament features eight top mid-major schools. The RedHawks open play on Monday against Drake at 1:30 p.m. Depending on that result, Miami will take on either Northeastern or South Alabama on Tuesday at either 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. Wednesday's final game time is still to be determined. The opponent will be either Wright State, Weber State, La Salle or Murray State. All Gulf Coast Showcase games will be available on FloSports for a fee.  An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.

REDHAWKS IN EARLY SEASON TOURNAMENTS: This is the sixth straight season the RedHawks are participated in an MTE Tournament of some sort, and the second straight year they have competed in a bracket style event. Last season at the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase, Miami opened up with an 89-78 win over North Dakota State. In the semifinals, the RedHawks dropped a 73-71 squeaker to Montana the next day. Miami fell, 86-80, in the third place game against Pepperdine to close out the tournament.

SIBANDE MOVING UP CAREER SCORING LIST:  With 14 points in the win over Central State on Wednesday, junior guard Nike Sibande passed Miami Hall-of-Famer Charlie Coles for 31st on the school's career scoring list. Sibande now has scored 1,098 points during his career. The career scoring leaders can be found on page 12 of the attached game notes pack.

ABOUT DRAKE: The Bulldogs are the defending Missouri Valley regular season champion and are 4-1 on the season. They have won three straight, including a 74-58 win over Lehigh in their last game on Thursday. Drake is led by 7-0 sophomore forward Liam Robbins. He is averaging 13.0 points per game. The Bulldogs are shooting 53 percent for the season, including 40.4 percent from behind the arc. They are holding opponents to only 61.0 points per game.

SERIES WITH DRAKE: Drake won the only other meeting with Miami, 62-44, on Dec. 26, 1986 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This game was played during Miami's first post-Ron Harper season. Karlton Clayborne led the Red and White with nine points.

MIAMI VS. MISSOURI VALLEY: Known for its runs in the NCAA Tournament (including Loyola's Final Four journey two seasons ago), the Missouri Valley Conference is made up of 10 schools located in the middle part of the United States. Miami is 21-21 all-time in games against the current members of the MVC. In addition to a 0-1 record against Drake, the RedHawks are 4-11 record against Evansville, 4-1 vs. Illinois State, 3-4 vs. Indiana State, 4-1 vs. Loyola (Chi.), 2-1 vs. Missouri State, 2-1 vs. Southern Illinois and 1-1 vs. Valparaiso. Miami has never faced Bradley or Northern Iowa.

ABOUT NORTHEASTERN: The Huskies are 3-2 on the season. They just ended a two game losing streak with a 101-44 demolishing of Holy Cross in their last game on Tuesday. They are coming off a year in which they finished second in the CAA and went to the NCAA Tournament. Leading the way for Northeastern is senior guard Jordan Roland. He is leading the nation with a 30.4 points per game average.

SERIES WITH NORTHEASTERN: Miami won its only previous meeting with Northeastern. The RedHawks earned a 67-61 victory on Nov. 22, 2015 in Oxford as part of the Men vs. Breast Cancer Challenge. Geovonie McKnight and Eric Washington each scored 17 points for Miami.

MIAMI VS. CAA: The Colonial Athletic Association is made up schools that are located in states located by the Atlantic Coast. Miami is 9-6 all-time against the CAA. In addition to their 1-0 record vs. Northeastern, the RedHawks are 6-0 vs. William & Mary, 0-1 vs. Delaware, 0-1 vs. Elon, 1-1 vs. James Madison, 0-2 vs. UNC Wilmington and 1-1 vs. Towson. Miami has never faced College of Charleston, Drexel or Hofstra.

ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA: The Jaguars are 3-2 on the season. They broke a two-game losing streak with a 98-72 win over Spring Hill last Tuesday. South Alabama is led by senior guard Andre Fox. He is averaging 17.8 points per game.

SERIES WITH SOUTH ALABAMA: The RedHawks won their only previous meeting with the Jaguars. At the Anaheim Classic out in California on Nov. 22, 2007, Miami knocked off South Alabama, 64-59. Michael Bramos scored 28 points, while Tim Pollitz had a double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds.

MIAMI VS. SUN BELT: The Sun Belt is made up of 13 schools located mainly in the Southeastern portion of the United States. Miami has limited history against the current SBC schools, but does hold a 4-1 record all-time against them. In addition, to their 1-0 record against South Alabama, the RedHawks are 1-0 vs. Arkansas State, 1-0 vs. Coastal Carolina and 1-1 vs. Troy. Miami has never faced Appalachian State, Little Rock, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe, UT Arlington or Texas State.

THE SERIES WITH THE REST OF THE TOURNEY TEAMS: On Wednesday, Miami will face one of the four teams on the other side of the bracket. It could be a rematch against Wright State. The RedHawks are 21-14 all-time vs. the Raiders, but fell 88-81 in the season opener on Nov. 10. Against the other teams, Miami is 2-0 vs. La Salle, 2-0 vs. Weber State and has never faced Murray State.

UP NEXT: The RedHawks will have the Thanksgiving holiday off before returning to action on Tuesday, Dec. 3 for a home game against Northern Kentucky. Tip time is 7 p.m. and it will air on ESPN+, with an audio broadcast available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.