Miami Begins MAC Play Saturday at Central Michigan

Miami RedHawks (7-6; 0-0 MAC) at Central Michigan Chippewas (7-6, 0-0 MAC)
Game 14: Saturday, January 4 • 2 p.m. (EST)
McGuirk Arena (5,300) • Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Series vs. CMU/Streak: Miami leads 53-21/CMU-1
Last Meeting: CMU 84 Miami 77, Jan. 4, 2019
TV: ESPN+ • Riley Edwards (PxP) Eli Thaut (Color)
Radio: Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner • Terry Bridge (PxP)
Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner Affiliates: WMOH 1450 Hamilton; WFMG 101.3 Richmond; WDBZ 1230 AM/101.5 FM Cincinnati

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Miami University men's basketball team opens Mid-American Conference play with a trip to Central Michigan on Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.

MAC OPENERS: This is the 74th season the MAC has sponsored basketball (Miami joined the league in the second season). Miami is the winningest team all-time in the MAC with 641 victories. Its win percentage of .598 (641-431) also easily ranks as the conference's top mark. The RedHawks are 50-22 all-time in MAC openers. This is the second straight season and sixth time in history that Miami has opened league play against Central Michigan with the Red and White holding a 3-2 record in the previous eight. Last season the Chippewas earned an 84-77 victory in Oxford to open MAC play.

RECORDS NEARLY BROKEN: The RedHawks nearly set several offensive records in their 119-52 victory over Wilberforce on Monday. The 119 points were the second-most ever behind the 123 scored in win over Midway on Nov. 29, 2017. The 47 field goals made was the fourth-most in school history, while the .671 shooting percentage for the game ranked fourth as well. Seven different Miami players finished in double-figures scoring in the victory. It was the first time since an 81-71 victory at Purdue on Nov. 19, 2004, that the 'Hawks had six or more do that in same game.

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN: The Chippewas went 7-6 during the non-conference season. They started out winning seven of their first nine games, but have dropped their last four contests in a row. That includes a 97-62 defeat at Purdue in their last game on Dec. 28. Central Michigan wants to run and it wants to score. The team averages 85.9 points per game, which leads the MAC and ranks third in the country. Four Chippewas average in double figures, led by senior guard Kevin McKay at 15.1 points per game.

THE SERIES WITH CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Miami leads the all-time series with Central Michigan, 53-21. The Chippewas won the last meeting between the team two teams however, 84-77, on Jan. 5, 2019 in Oxford. After falling behind early, the RedHawks got as close as four points late in the second half, but were unable to complete the comeback in last season's MAC opener. Dalonte Brown led Miami with 22 points.

UP AHEAD: Miami remains on the road as it travels to Bowling Green on Tuesday. Game time is 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.

Miami Begins MAC Play Saturday at Central Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Dalonte Brown