Lairy Comes Up Big In Huge Statement Win For Miami

The shortest player on the floor in Atlanta Tuesday night made the biggest play of the game.

That's it. That's the game recap. That's really all you need to know.

Going into the final offensive possession of the night at Georgia Tech, Miami had 68 points and was desperate for more…and they got them from someone who stands just 68 inches tall.

Mekhi Lairy: Five-foot-eight. Maybe. With shoes on.

But with the RedHawks trailing 69-68 late in their season opener, it was Lairy crashing in from the right wing to somehow snag an offensive rebound on the left side of the backboard, laying it back in to put Miami on top with 15.8 seconds to play.

MU went on to defeat the reigning ACC Tournament champions 72-69, scoring the last nine points of the game to stun McCamish Pavilion and make the college basketball world sit up and take notice.

It was the RedHawks' first win over a 'Power Five' school since a 2007 overtime victory at Illinois, and the biggest star of the night in one of the program's biggest wins in recent memory ended up being the not-at-all-big senior point guard.

"Mekhi Lairy is as talented as any guard in our league," said head coach Jack Owens. "I think he's an All-Conference kind of guy…and I think he's the best two-way talented player in our league offensively and defensively.

"He'll do whatever it takes to help us win…He's a guy that can score the basketball in a lot of ways and set the table for this team."

Lairy finished with a team-high 23 points against the Yellow Jackets, including his layup in 'among the trees' that proved to be the game-winning hoop.

"I've always been the smallest player, so being able to go finish down there with the bigs, that's huge for me," Lairy said.

The Evansville, Indiana product takes pride in how he's learned to overcome the size difference he's always faced on the court, using his speed and quickness to beat a defender to a perfect spot or create an angle to shoot over a larger foe.

He's had his whole life to practice.

Mekhi Lairy vs. Georgia Tech

"My dad put a stuffed basketball in my hand when I was 1 or 2 years old," said Lairy. "My brothers, cousins – a lot of people in my family play, so I've been around the game a lot…

"I remember one specific day when I was maybe 12 or 13. We were playing a game, about five or six people in my neighborhood, all taller than me of course. It was game point: I went to the rim and I got blocked on a layup. I realized, 'I've got to figure out another move, like a pull-up jumper or a floater.' After that, I started to win more games."

Lairy, who finished as runner-up for Indiana's Mr. Basketball award to current Boston Celtics guard Romeo Langford, went on to be the all-time high school scoring leader in Evansville city history with 2,237 career points, and his ability to put the ball in the basket caught Owens' eye.

"His high school coach and I are good friends, and he said, 'Man, I've got a guy for you: He's tough and he can play on your level,'" Owens remembered. "He brought his team to team camp and he was right: I fell in love with Mekhi right here on this floor, to be honest with you."

Lairy has played in every game for the RedHawks since arriving on campus in 2018, and averaged 12.8 points a game as a junior as Miami posted its first winning record since 2009. Lairy's development on the court from year to year has been obvious, and his progress as a player has mirrored the steps the team as a whole has made over that same time span.

"When you see a win like this to start the season, you just see the growth in the program," said Owens. "To be able to stay in the game and then find a way to win at the end…the growth from where we've come to where we are now.

"I truly believe, with every team on our schedule, if we do what we're capable of doing, we have a chance of winning that game. Not saying we're going to win every one, but with our talent, our experience, and how the guys are bought in to each other, I just think we can continue to grow."

In Tuesday's victory, the tone was set by Lairy—who else?—on the very first made field goal of the entire season. With a dozen seconds remaining on the shot clock, Lairy pulled up from at least 68 inches behind the three-point line and let a shot fly from the midcourt logo.

Nothing but net.

"When he first took it, I was like, 'This dude is nuts!'," freshman Curtis Harrison IV said. "Then he hit it, and I was like, 'Okay, maybe I'm wrong.'" Josh Pastner knows Mekhi Lairys Steph Curry-like range

Josh Pastner knows Mekhi Lairys Steph Curry-like range

"Logo – that's crazy," said Owens. "I told him and Dae Dae to have their feet ready to shoot. Not that deep, obviously, but be ready to shoot.

"That's their range. They have the capability. It's pretty impressive."

(Obviously, Lairy's Steph Curry-like range shows up on the scouting report for opponents as well; on replay, maybe the only thing more remarkable than where Lairy shot from is the fact that Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner could be seen with his hands straight up asking for the Yellow Jackets to close out and contest the near-30-foot jumper.)

Lairy said it was an 'easy' shot, but admitted he didn't realize exactly how deep it was until after the game. Still, it was clear that the long-range triple gave the RedHawks a jolt of confidence from the get-go, setting the stage for Lairy to bookend the game with the go-ahead bucket late.

"I felt like we just wanted to go out there and prove a point and let them know that we were there and we were coming to play," Lairy said.

As the point guard and playmaker, Lairy operates an offense that executed at a super-efficient clip, especially in the second half. While the RedHawks know they're a better shooting team than the 6-31 showing from behind the arc, they made up for that by making every single possession count.

MU was guilty of only one turnover in the final 20 minutes Tuesday night, an incredible number. Owens said the team's goal this year is to be the best in the country in taking care of the basketball, and they're off to a dream start in that regard as well.

"That's one thing we pride ourselves on: Not turning the ball over," Lairy said. "That's huge, especially on the road."

The RedHawks return home for a four-game homestand at Millett Hall, beginning Saturday at 2 p.m. vs. Lamar, and Lairy is optimistic that the Georgia Tech win can be a foundation for a special season to come.

"Our goal ultimately is to win a MAC championship and advance to the NCAA tournament. We want to take it one game at a time, and not to overlook anybody," said Lairy. "Just be ourselves, be Miami, and set the standard."

Yes, the 2021-22 RedHawks have high standards and huge expectations…but if anyone can help Miami meet them, it's the smallest guy on the floor.

Don't be surprised if he does just that.

Find more Front Row Features at MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures.

Lairy Comes Up Big In Huge Statement Win For Miami

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