OXFORD, Ohio— The Miami University men's basketball team lost a conference game at Millett Hall against Eastern Michigan University Saturday night by a score of 74-69.
Mekhi Lairy led the RedHawks (7-14, 1-7 MAC) with 23 points and
Ryan Mabrey added an additional 16 points. Noah Farrakhan led the Eagles (5-16, 2-6 MAC) with 20 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Miami made the initial blow to start the game after Mabrey hit a three-point field goal. Eastern Michigan followed this up with a layup, but Miami then went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead 12-2. A Lairy shot from beyond the arc gave Miami its largest lead up to that point at 15-4. The Eagles didn't give up despite trailing early, tying the game at 15-15 with 11:30 to play in the first half.
- Each team continued to answer one another, a layup from Mabrey kept the score even at 22-22. The Eagles attempted to pull away at 29-24, but a Lairy layup and pair of free throws from Kamari Williams brought Miami back within one point. The RedHawks regained a 36-35 lead after Morgan Safford and Mabrey scored back-to-back three-point field goals. Miami trailed 40-38 entering halftime.
- Safford opened the second half with a layup to knot the game at 40 apiece. Eastern Michigan attempted to pull away, but free throws from Lairy and a Mirambeaux layup mitigated the lead. The Eagles went on to extend the score to 55-47. A collection of shots from downtown by Mabrey, Williams and Lairy shrunk the lead to 60-59 with 7:17 to play.
- With 5:01 on the game clock, Eastern Michigan scored the next seven points to stretch their lead to 67-59. The RedHawks came within four points at 71-67 and 73-69 but ultimately fell 74-69.
NOTES
- Lairy moved into eighth place on the program's career three-point scoring list with 177 total, matching Matt Kramer (1990-93).
- Mabrey set a new career-high 16 points.
- Mirambeaux had a game-high nine rebounds.
UP NEXT:
Miami continues conference play at home against the University of Toledo this Tuesday, Jan. 31. Tip time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio.
