Miami RedHawks (9-13; 2-7 MAC) at Ohio Bobcats (10-12, 2-7 MAC)
Game 23: Saturday, February 7 • 3:30 p.m. (EST)
Convocation Center (13,080) • Athens, Ohio
Series vs. Ohio/Streak: Ohio leads 111-94/Ohio-1
Last Meeting: Ohio 66 Miami 57, March 8, 2019
TV: ESPN3 • Russ Eisenstein (PxP) Rob Cornelius (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
 
ATHENS, Ohio - The Miami University men's basketball team heads to Athens for its first "Battle of the Bricks" rivalry game against Ohio this Saturday. Tip time is 3:30 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN3. An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.

HALFWAY THROUGH MAC PLAY: While the results have not quite been what the RedHawks have hoped for so far in Mid-American Conference play, Miami still has the opportunity to move up in the standings as it begins the second half of the league slate against the Bobcats. The top four teams in the MAC earn byes straight to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament March 12-14. Right now those schools are Bowling Green (8-2), Central Michigan (6-2), Northern Illinois (7-3) and Akron (6-3). The remaining eight teams will compete on campus sites in the MAC Tournament First Round on Monday, March 9 for the other four spots in Cleveland. The fifth through eighth seeds will be the hosts for those games. Right now that would be Ball State (6-3), Kent State (6-4), Buffalo (5-5) and Western Michigan (3-6).  Going on the road right now would be Toledo (3-7), Miami (2-7), Ohio (2-7) and Eastern Michigan (2-7). Being only one game out of a home spot in the MAC Tournament will provide plenty of incentive for the 'Hawks as they begin the second half of league play.

GRANT GETS CAREER-HIGH: Freshman guard Dae Dae Grant set new career-highs with 20 points and five assists against Western Michigan on Tuesday. It was his 10th straight game scoring in double figures. During that stretch, Grant is leading the RedHawks with an average of 13.0 points per game. For the entire year, he is averaging 10.0 points per contest.

ABOUT OHIO: The Bobcats are 10-12 overall and 2-7 in the MAC. They have lost their last four games, although each contest has been close. In their last game they fell to Ball State, 65-54, in Muncie, Indiana last Tuesday. Under a new coaching staff this season, Ohio has a young roster led by sophomore guard Jason Preston. He is averaging 15.8 points per game. Redshirt sophomore Ben Vander Plas, the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year, is averaging 15.3 points and a team-leading 7.0 rebounds per game.

THE SERIES WITH OHIO: Miami has played more games against Ohio then any other opponent over its 114 seasons of men's basketball. The Bobcats hold a 111-94 lead in the all-time series with the RedHawks. The teams split their two meetings last season with each team winning at home. On Feb. 9, 2019 in Oxford, Miami jumped to a 20-point halftime lead before cruising to a 79-59 win. Bam Bowman had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the 'Hawks. On March 8, 2019 in Athens, the Bobcats overcame a seven-point halftime deficit with a big second half performance to defeat Miami, 66-57. The RedHawks were led by Nike Sibande with 22 points as he became the first player in school history to crack the 1,000 career points barrier as a sophomore.

UP NEXT: Miami remains on the road next Tuesday when it travels to Toledo for a 7 p.m. tip. The game will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner. The RedHawks return home next Saturday, Feb. 15 for their annual One Miami Weekend tripleheader with the women's basketball and hockey teams. Miami will host Northern Illinois at 3:30 p.m. for that contest that will celebrate the faculty and staff of the University, as well as members of the greater Oxford community.