RedHawks Drop GCS Finale to Wright State, 71-66

Wednesday, November 27

Fort Myers, Fla.

5:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

4-3

Wright State

6-2

Wright State

MIAMI

RedHawks Drop GCS Finale to Wright State, 71-66

11/27/2019 7:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Wright State 71 Miami 66 (PDF)

ESTERO, Fla. – The Miami University men's basketball team nearly overcame a tough shooting night with a late second half comeback, but Wright State hit its free throws in the final minute to secure a 71-66 victory to close out play at the Gulf Coast Showcase on Wednesday. The RedHawks fall to 4-3 on the season, while the Raiders improve to 6-2.

Miami struggled from the field, finishing 24-for-67 (35.8 percent). It was 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) from behind the arc. Junior guard Nike Sibande led the 'Hawks with 20 points, while senior forward Bam Bowman had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds despite playing only 19 minutes.

A layup and a three-pointer by Bowman put Miami up 5-0. Freshman guard Dae Dae Grant and redshirt junior guard Milos Jovic each drained triples to give the RedHawks a 13-10 advantage at the 12:45 mark. Miami went scoreless the next couple of minutes, but a layup and a three-pointer from Sibande started a 9-4 run by the Red and White that gave them a 22-14 lead with 7:32 remaining.

On the board first with a @32_markeith layup!

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— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 27, 2019

The drive for the left-handed layup by @DGrant_03!

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— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 27, 2019

The teams began trading three pointers as the pace of the contest began to pick up. Sibande hit two more triples, while a pair of Bowman free throws gave Miami its largest lead at 33-24 with 2:57 to go. The Raiders closed the half on a 10-0 run to go into the break leading, 34-33.

Back-to-back jumpers by sophomore guard Mekhi Lairy and Sibande put the RedHawks up, 39-38. Wright State drained a three-pointer to regain the lead with 17:42 to go. Buckets by Lairy and sophomore forward Elijah McNamara kept Miami within two at 47-45 at the 14:54 mark. The Raiders followed with a 12-3 run that gave them their largest lead at 59-48 with 11:02 to go.

The jumper for the lead by @nike_sibande!

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— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 27, 2019

Big bucket by @milos_jo15. We are down 62-54 with 7:26 to go.

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— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 27, 2019

Trailing 62-52, a jumper from Jovic began Miami's comeback attempt. The RedHawks kept Wright State from scoring over the next seven minutes. A layup from McNamara and a three-pointer by junior forward Dalonte Brown pulled Miami within three. A Brown free throw completed the 8-0 run and made it 62-60 with 3:17 to go.

Not giving up! @DalontB drains the 3! We are down 62-59 at final media timeout. 3:26 to go.

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— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 27, 2019

WSU scored the next five to go back up by seven, but a free throw from Sibande, followed by a monstrous dunk cut the deficit to four. After getting a defensive stop, a layup from Lairy made it 67-65 with 23 seconds left. After struggling from the charity stripe throughout the second half, the Raiders hit their final four to secure the 71-66 victory.

Big time dunk for @nike_sibande!

Watch Live: https://t.co/QZmZp5nQM6 #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/2UjXIJJCWV
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) November 27, 2019

Brown finished with nine points, while Lairy had seven points and four assists. Miami held a 43-39 rebounding advantage. Wright State was led Grant Basile, who had a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The RedHawks will now return home to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. Miami returns to action next Tuesday when it hosts Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. The game will air live on ESPN+.