RedHawks Start Conference Play at Central Michigan

TUESDAY'S GAME: The RedHawks travel to conference opponent Central Michigan this Tuesday, Jan. 3. This is Miami's 14th game of the season, and tip time is set for 7 p.m. at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Fans can tune in on ESPN+ or by listening to one of Miami's game day radio affiliates which consists of WFMG-FM 101.3 (Richmond, Ind.), WMOH-AM 1450 (Hamilton, Ohio), and WONE-AM 980 (Dayton, Ohio).

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Head coach Tony Barbee enters his second season with the Chippewas after taking over the program on April 23, 2021. Most recently, Coach Barbee spent seven seasons with Kentucky. Central Michigan stands at 5-8, after most recently defeating the University of Michigan 63-61. Guard Kevin Miller (18.5), guard Brian Taylor (14.4), and guard Jesse Zarzuela (14.3) lead them in scoring.

THE SERIES WITH THE CHIPPEWAS: Miami and Central Michigan first faced off more than 50 years ago, dating back to 1972. This Tuesday, will mark the 80th meeting between Miami and Central Michigan. The RedHawks hold a 28-9 home record, 27-13 away record, and 1-1 neutral record when facing the Chippewas.

UP NEXT: Miami continues conference play against Kent State Saturday, Jan. 7. Tip time is set for 3:30 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio.

SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS RECAP: The Miami University men's basketball team won a non-conference game at Millett Hall against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods University Thursday night by a score of 90-51. Morgan Safford led the RedHawks (6-7) with 19 points and also recorded seven rebounds. Julian Lewis and Mekhi Lairy each added 13 points of their own. Davin Miller led the Pomeroys (6-9) with 12 points.

LOCKED IN AT THE LINE: Miami University currently ranks second in the nation in free throw shooting percentage. As a team, the RedHawks are shooting 81.2%. Mekhi Lairy leads the way, ranking fourth in the nation and first in the MAC. Anderson Mirambeaux finds himself ranked 136th nationally and fourth in the MAC.

MEKHI LAIRY: Among the returners is fifth-year senior Mekhi Lairy, who set Miami's single-season free-throw percentage record a year ago and currently holds the career free-throw percentage record. Lairy, who averaged 13.6 ppg in 2021-22, posted his 1,000th career point last season and is on pace to break Miami's career games played record this season. Lairy now has 1,427 career points. He is in 12th place on the program's all-time list after passing Julian Mavunga, Wayne Embry, David Scott, and Tim Pollitz versus Wright State. Lairy also surpassed Randy Ayers on the career assists list to take the ninth spot all-time against Calumet College. This season against Georgia, Lairy set a new career-high in points (34) and produced the first 30-point game for a RedHawk since Mar. 9, 2020 (Nike Sibande, 31). He has also recorded 30-point scoring performances against Wright State and Bellarmine this year.

STAND AND DELIVER: One of the most efficient free throw shooters in the conference, fifth-year senior guard Mekhi Lairy ranked first in the MAC in free-throw percentage in the 2021-22 season. Lairy hit 29 consecutive free throws from Nov. 27 through Jan. 29. He was perfect from the free-throw line in 18 of the 25 games where he attempted a free-throw shot. His .915 (2021-22) free throw percentage ranks first on Miami's single-season list and his .866 career free-throw percentage also ranks first. Mekhi has started the 2022-23 season 65-70 from the free throw line.

MABREY MAGIC: After returning to the starting lineup versus Bellarmine, Ryan Mabrey knocked down the biggest shot of his collegiate career. With 18 seconds left in the game, Mabrey scored the game clenching three-point shot to take a 69-65 lead over Bellarmine. This propelled the RedHawks to their first road victory of the season.

SAFFORDS RETURN: Since returning from injury, Morgan Safford has started in every game he's played. In the last seven games he has averaged 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. In his second game back from injury, he set a new career-high 26-points against Jackson State to lead the RedHawks to a 95-78 win.

SHOWING OUT: Against Jackson State, six RedHawks put up double-figures in scoring for the first time since Nov. 23, 2021. This included Morgan Safford (26), Ryan Mabrey (15), Billy Smith (14), Julian Lewis (13), Anderson Mirambeaux (12), and Mekhi Lairy (11). Overall, Miami shot 60% (33-55) from the field. The Red and White also shot 50% (14-28) from the three-point line. Each shooting percentage was the most for a RedHawk team since Nov. 13, 2021. Against Calumet College, the RedHawks shot a season-high 59.3% from beyond the arc.

DEFENSIVE STAND: In the second game of the season against Goshen College Miami forced 27 turnovers. This is the most for a RedHawk opponent since Nov. 17, 2015 (Kenyon, 24 turnovers). Miami recorded 18 steals (second highest in program history), led by freshman Billy Smith with six total.

NEW FACES, NEW PLACES: Two RedHawks recorded double-doubles in Miami's first win of the season versus Goshen College. Sophomore transfer Julian Lewis made his season debut, tying his career-high of 17 points and setting a new career-high of 10 rebounds. Freshman Billy Smith recorded 11 points, 12 rebounds, six steals, and four assists. This year the RedHawks boast five freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors, three seniors, and a fifth-year senior.

INCOMING TALENT: Julian Lewis is a guard from William & Mary where he averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. He recorded a career-high of 17 points versus Delaware and a career-high of eight assists against Valparaiso. As a freshman, Lewis was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. This season Lewis has averaged 10.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.

Morgan Safford is a guard from Wofford College. During his tenure he averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. He recorded his previous career-high 21 points versus Coastal Carolina as a redshirt freshman. During his first campaign, Safford was named to the 2020-2021 Southern Conference All-Freshman Team. He was named a captain at the beginning of the season for the RedHawks. This season Safford has averaged 15.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

Anderson Mirambeaux is a forward from Cleveland State University. While attending he averaged 1.5 pts, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists with the Vikings. Prior to Cleveland State, Mirambeaux attended Trinity Valley Community College. At TVCC he averaged 13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He was named a captain at the beginning of the season for the RedHawks. In Anderson Mirambeaux's first game with Miami, he set a career-high 27 points. In the game versus Jackson State, he also set a career-high in assists with seven. Up to this point, Mirambeaux is averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

RedHawks Start Conference Play at Central Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Mekhi Lairy

Julian Lewis

Ryan Mabrey

Anderson Mirambeaux

Morgan Safford

Billy Smith