OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University men's basketball team used a 16-0 run late in the second half to upset Bowling Green 73-55 on Saturday afternoon in Millett Hall. In Miami's last five games the RedHawks have now beat the top team in both divisions (Northern Illinois and BGSU) and have outscored their last two opponents by 37 points.
Nike Sibande led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Elijah McNamara and
Dae Dae Grant each had 10 points as eight different RedHawks got on the scoresheet. Sibande now has 1,412 career points and ranks 10th all-time in Miami scoring history.
Miami's defense was outstanding all afternoon, holding the Falcons to 36.7 percent shooting and outrebounding BGSU 40-29 and forcing 14 turnovers. The RedHawks used several defenders all game on BG's Justin Turner. Turner came into Saturday's contest averaging 19.0 points per game. He scored just four points on 1-of-11 shooting. Turner and Daeqwon Plowden were the only to Falcons to score in the second half.
The RedHawks' offense was humming to start the contest. McNamara opened the contest with an easy layup and moments later hit a step-back jumper.
Milos Jovic scored six points before the first media timeout and spotted the Red and White a 12-2 lead with 15:56 to go in the first half.
BGSU answered with a 12-2 run of their own to knot the score at 14 apiece before the RedHawks got seven quick tallies from Sibande and Bowman to lead 21-14 with 8:55 left in the half. A pair of Sibande free throws gave Miami a 27-18 lead with just under seven minutes to play.
After 15-6 BGSU run, the score was tied at 33-33 with 1:50 to play in the half. Both teams exchanged three pointers late in the half and Sibande hit a floater in the lane with seven seconds left to send Miami to the locker room with a 38-36 advantage.
BGSU connected on a three pointer midway through the half to take its first lead of the game at 53-51, but Miami answered quickly.
Dae Dae Grant made a jumper in the lane and
Bam Bowman made a layup to put Miami back on top, 55-53. Grant continued his hot shooting, scoring five points in less than 45 seconds to put Miami up, 60-53.
Sibande then scored on back-to-back monstrous dunks and Bowman hit a deep triple as Miami's run reached 16-0 as the RedHawks led 67-53 with 4:29 to play.
Miami returns to action on Wednesday, March 3 with a trip to Buffalo. Opening tip is slated for 7 p.m.
