Miami University
13-19,5-13MAC
#5 Buffalo
20-12,11-7MAC
Sibande Leads Miami to First Round Win Over Buffalo
3/9/2020 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Junior guard scores career-high 31 points to send RedHawks to Cleveland.
With the victory, Miami advances to Cleveland where it will take on the fourth-seed Northern Illinois in a MAC Quarterfinal game on Thursday at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Game time will be approximately 2:30 p.m.
Sibande scored a career-high 31 points on 10-for-14 shooting. That included 23 points in the first half as he helped pull the RedHawks out of an early deficit.
As a team, Miami shot 46.7 percent (28-for-60) and 40.0 percent (8-for-20) from behind the arc. The 'Hawks came up clutch from the line, hitting 21-for-24 (87.5 percent) from the charity stripe.
Buffalo jumped to an 8-0 lead only 1:32 into the game forcing head coach Jack Owens to use an early timeout. Miami came out inspired after the quick break as a bucket from sophomore forward Elijah McNamara, a triple from redshirt sophomore guard Isaiah Coleman-Lands and a layup from Sibande put Miami on the board. An old-fashioned three-point play from Sibande cut the deficit to 13-12 with 15:34 left in the half.
Getting our offense going, @Zeke_11_Coleman drains the 3!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 9, 2020
Watch Live: https://t.co/H1A3a6Azi0#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/cGeCrljRF4
And-1 for @nike_sibande! 💪
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 9, 2020
Watch Live: https://t.co/H1A3a6Azi0#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/MBvhQwwMza
The Bulls responded with a 12-5 run to build their largest lead of the half at 25-17 at the 11:33 mark. Freshman guard Dae Dae Grant scored the next seven points in a row to pull Miami within one. Another and-1 opportunity by Sibande tied the score at 27 with 8:30 remaining.
Another and-1 for @nike_sibande and we are tied!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 10, 2020
Watch Live: https://t.co/H1A3a6Azi0#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/TeG1SU84HD
The RedHawks took the lead for the first time on a Sibande triple. UB took it right back with a three-pointer of its own, but Sibande answered with another three that made it 39-37. After a steal by Coleman-Lands on the next possession, he sent it across the court for a Sibande dunk. He was fouled and hit the free throw to make it 42-37 with 5:11 to go.
And the and-1 dunk!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 10, 2020
Watch Live: https://t.co/H1A3a6Azi0#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/tiYgtLV4ZG
Miami's defense held strong the remainder of the half, allowing the Bulls only two more points. Another triple from Coleman-Lands, a layup from Sibande and a pair of free throws from redshirt junior forward Precious Ayah sent the 'Hawks into the break with a 49-39 advantage.
Ball movement leads to another @Zeke_11_Coleman 3!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 10, 2020
Watch Live: https://t.co/H1A3a6Azi0#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/U9a3BBio9Q
Sibande scored 23 points in the first half, shooting 7-for-10 from the field, including 2-for-3 from behind the arc. He was 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
The RedHawks came out cold to start the second half, and Buffalo responded with a 15-2 run to take a 54-51 lead at the 15:04 mark. Jumpers from Sibande and Ayah put Miami back in front, but the Bulls eventually took a six-point advantage at 68-62 with 9:53 to go.
Sophomore guard Mekhi Lairy recorded a pair of fast break layups to get the RedHawks back into the contest. Buffalo responded, but three-pointers from senior forward Bam Bowman and Coleman-Lands gave Miami a 74-73 lead with 5:15 to go. Redshirt junior Milos Jovic followed with a big triple, but the Bulls hit a jumper to tie the score at 77 at the 1:20 mark.
The steal from @Zeke_11_Coleman leads to the layup from @Nolimitdeuce!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 10, 2020
Watch Live: https://t.co/H1A3a6Azi0#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/qfcR8ecrNX
The 3 for the lead for @Zeke_11_Coleman!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 10, 2020
Watch Live: https://t.co/H1A3a6Azi0#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/KK8UhbUrmy
Jovic broke the tie with a layup after Coleman-Lands found him down low. A great defensive stand by the RedHawks resulted in an empty possession from Buffalo. Lairy put down a couple of free throws to make it a two-possession game and Miami did not look back as it secured its first trip to Cleveland since 2018.
Big layup from @milos_jo15 gives us the lead again at 79-77! Timeout Buffalo with 51.7 seconds to go!
— MiamiOH Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 10, 2020
Watch Live: https://t.co/H1A3a6Azi0#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/rEabYNoiod
Coleman-Lands finished with 13 points for Miami, while Grant scored nine and Lairy eight. Buffalo was led by Ronaldo Segu with 20 points.
