OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University men's basketball team found a way around Eastern Michigan's tough zone defense with some key shot makes as it earned a 73-68 victory Saturday inside Millett Hall. The RedHwaks improve to 9-11 overall and 2-5 in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles fall to 10-10 overall and 0-7 in the MAC.
Redshirt sophomore guard
Isaiah Coleman-Lands hit clutch baskets in both halves to lead Miami with 16 points. He was 6-for-10 from the field, including 4-for-8 from behind the arc. Junior guard
Nike Sibande finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore guard
Mekhi Lairy tied a career high with eight assists.
A quick start saw freshman guard
Dae Dae Grant drain a three, while Lairy followed with jumper. Lairy then found Brown with a pass from half court for a nifty alley-oop dunk. Another dunk from Sibande put Miami on top, 11-5 with 16:52 to go in half.
Eastern Michigan went on a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to take an 18-13 advantage. A pair of buckets by sophomore forward Elijah McNamara cut the deficit to one, but a 13-5 run from the Eagles gave them their largest lead of the game, 31-22, at the 6:22 mark.
Three-pointers from Grant and Coleman-Lands got Miami's offense going again. A jumper by Dalonte Brown pulled it to within one at 33-32. EMU scored the next four points, but two free throws from Sibande sent the RedHawks into the break trailing by only three, 37-34.
Senior forward Bam Bowman opened the second half scoring with a layup, while Grant hit another triple. The teams traded buckets until a jumper from Brown tied the score at 45 at the 15:46 mark. Trailing 50-47, a three-pointer from redshirt junior Milos Jovic pulled Miami even once again, while a fast break jumper by Lairy put Miami in front, 52-50, with 11:45 to go.
Tied at 52, a big three-pointer from Coleman-Lands gave the RedHawks a lead they would not relinquish. Eastern Michigan continued to close to within one possession, but each time Miami found an answer. A triple by Bowman and a jumper from Sibande gave the 'Hawks a 69-64 advantage at the 3:22 mark.
The Eagles closed with within one point at 69-68 with 30 seconds to go. Coleman-Lands found an opening and got the layup to make it a three point game at the 18 second mark. After some good defense got Miami the ball back, a pair of free throws from Grant sealed the 73-68 win.
Grant finished with 13 points for the Red and White, while Brown joined him in double figures with 10. Eastern Michigan was led by Boubacar Toure, who had a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The RedHawks complete their home stand on Tuesday when they welcome Central Michigan to Millett Hall. Tip time is 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+.
