RedHawks Fall to South Alabama, 82-71 in GCS Semifinals

Tuesday, November 26

Fort Myers, Fla.

5:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

4-2

South Alabama

5-2

MIAMI

South Alabama

RedHawks Fall to South Alabama, 82-71 in GCS Semifinals

11/26/2019 7:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score South Alabama 82 Miami 71 (PDF)

ESTERO, Fla. – The Miami University men's basketball team used a 10-0 run to tie the score in the second half, but a 13-4 answer by South Alabama allowed the Jaguars to come away with a 82-71 victory in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Tuesday. The RedHawks fall to 4-2 as their four-game win streak comes to an end. USA improves to 5-2.

After committing 20 turnovers on Monday, Miami took much better care of the basketball on Tuesday, finishing with only 10. The RedHawks also hit 10 three-pointers in the contest. However, they could not overcome a hot-shooting South Alabama team that finished 31-for-52 (59.6 percent) from the field and held a 31-19 rebounding advantage.

Despite a couple of buckets from junior guard Nike Sibande and senior forward Bam Bowman, South Alabama jumped to an 8-4 lead to begin the game. A triple from freshman guard Dae Dae Grant began a trend for the RedHawks, as redshirt junior guard Milos Jovic followed with one of his own and Grant his second of the game to give Miami a 13-12 advantage with 13:25 remaining.

Tough layup from @nike_sibande gets us on the board!

Watch Live ($): https://t.co/QZmZp5nQM6 #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/sHSDvOHHO9
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 26, 2019

The 3⃣ for Dae Dae Grant!

Watch Live ($): https://t.co/QZmZp5nQM6 #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/MCN0BNQ7CI
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 26, 2019

The game continued at a torrid pace as junior forward Dalonte Brown scored seven straight for the 'Hawks to put them in front, 20-17. The Jaguars began to heat up from behind the arc, but Brown kept Miami in it with a three of his own. Trailing 31-25, jumpers from redshirt sophomore guard Isaiah Coleman-Lands and Grant, followed by a layup from Sibande tied the score at 31 at the 2:46 mark. The pace slowed the rest of the period as redshirt junior forward Precious Ayah put in a layup off a missed shot, but USA went into the break with a 36-33 lead.

The dish from @Nolimitdeuce to @DalontB gives us a 17-14 lead at the under 12 media timeout! 11:10 left in the first half.

Watch Live ($): https://t.co/QZmZp5nQM6 #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/WhEDmSKv4n
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 26, 2019

The Jaguars extended their advantage to seven to begin the second half before three-pointers from Jovic and Bowman cut the deficit to three at 42-39 with 17:23 to go. Each time USA threatened to pull awy, Miami would hit a key basket. Brown drained a three to make it 52-47 before a 7-2 run gave South Alabama a 59-49 lead with 10:06 remaining.

Another big 3 for @milos_jo15

Watch Live ($): https://t.co/QZmZp5nQM6 #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/PBkVv2ZnGh
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 26, 2019

Important 3 to keep us in this one by @DalontB!

Watch Live ($): https://t.co/QZmZp5nQM6 #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/CFDeYY3BqJ
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 26, 2019

On the 'Hawks next possession, Coleman-Lands drained a three. A turnover by the Jaguars led to a layup for sophomore guard Mekhi Lairy. USA turned it over again on its next possession and was called for a technical foul. Coleman-Lands calmly sank both free throws and followed it up with another triple to tie the score at 59. All told it was a 10-0 run in 1:42 that saw the game tied with 8:24 to go.

The 3 from @Zeke_11_Coleman completes a 10-0 run and ties the score at 59!

Watch Live ($): https://t.co/QZmZp5nQM6 #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/ADLlW91xRb
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 26, 2019

South Alabama quickly responded with five straight points. A layup from Bowman pulled Miami to within three, but a 12-2 answer from the Jaguars gave them a 76-63 advantage with 3:18 remaining and effectively put the contest away.

Brown led four in double figures for the RedHawks with 15. Sibande scored 13, while Coleman-Lands Jovic had 10 each. Josh Ajayi led South Alabama with 21 points, while Chad Lott had a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The RedHawks conclude play at the Gulf Coast Classic in the third-place game on Wednesday. Miami will face the loser of the Wright State/La Salle game.