The Miami University men's basketball team came up just short in an 83-78 loss to the University at Buffalo on Friday evening at Millett Hall. The loss drops the RedHawks to 7-9 overall and 0-3 in Mid-American Conference play. The Bulls improve to 9-6 overall and 1-2 in MAC action.
Dalonte Brown scored 18 points to lead the Red and White.
Isaiah Coleman-Lands added a season-high 13 points,
Dae Dae Grant had 11 points and
Bam Bowman chipped in with 10.
Miami opened the contest with an 11-0 run, using outstanding ball movement on the offensive side of the ball. The ball movement was on display early as Grant found a cutting Brown for a dunk to open the scoring.
Buffalo answered with a 17-0 run to take a 17-11 lead. A baseline drive by
Nike Sibande ended Miami's scoring drought and got the Red and White to within four at 17-13 with 10:30 to play in the half.
The Bulls hot shooting continued as they stretched their lead to 22-13 before Miami's offense caught fire. Brown converted on a three-point play and
Josh Brewer,
Mekhi Lairy and
Bam Bowman all drained three pointers to knot the score at 27 apiece with 7:17 left in the opening half.
After the teams exchanged baskets, Miami's Brown scored six of the team's next eight points, all from the foul line, as the RedHawks took a 38-31 lead late into the half.
Miami concluded the first half with a triple from
Isaiah Coleman-Lands and Eli McNamara hit a turn-around jumper at the buzzer to give Miami a 43-36 lead as the teams departed for the locker room.
Both offenses came out blistering to start the second half. After a pair of Bowman free throws that put Miami up 49-41, Buffalo answered with a 12-5 run to close within one at 54-53 with 15:46 to play. Buffalo's run continued following the media timeout, extending its lead to 65-58 with 10:25 to go.
Coleman-Lands connected on his second triple of the night and White made 3-of-4 free throws to get Miami to within 71-68 with 5:30 to play. Buffalo extended its lead to 80-74 before a late Miami run put a scare into the Bulls.
Grant went to the foul line to shoot two. He made the first, but missed the second. The ball ricocheted to Coleman-Lands at the top of the key who sank a triple to get Miami to within 80-78 with 11 seconds to play. Miami could get no closer though as the Bulls made three straight free throws to claim the 83-78 win.
Miami returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 14 with a home game versus Kent State. Opening tip is slated for 7 p.m.
