THIS TUESDAY: The RedHawks return home to host Spalding this Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. The game will take place at Millett Hall and can be streamed on ESPN+.

ABOUT SPALDING: Spalding University is a full member of the NCAA Division-III. The Spalding University men's basketball team put up an 8-17 (7-7 SLIAC) record this past season. Head coach Kevin Gray begins his 24th season with the Golden Eagles. He previously spent time as an assistant coach with the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, University of Alabama and Baylor University. Spalding has 22 players on its roster and welcome nine freshmen this year. Five of the nine freshmen are coming from Colonial High School located in Orlando, Fla. The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) coaches preseason poll has Spalding projected to finish in sixth this season. Anthony Dillard was named a Second Team All-SLIAC player last year after averaging 15.0 points (51% from the floor) and 7.7 rebounds per game. Other members of Spalding that were recognized include Jacoby Johnson (All-Defensive team) and Jonathan Henson (All-Sportsmanship honor).

This season, Anthony Dillard was named to the 2023-24 SLIAC Preseason Watch List. Dillard leads the Golden Eagles offense in scoring with 21.0 points per game. Jacoby Johnson holds the team-high in both assists (3.0 per game) and steals (1.75 per game). Devonte McCampbell heads the team in rebounding with 7.5 per contest. Emmanuel Rislin is averaging the most blocks (1.0) on the team in each competition. 

THE SERIES WITH THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Tuesday will be the second all-time meeting between Miami and Spalding. The RedHawks lead the series 1-0. The two teams last faced each other on Dec. 21, 2021, an 80-56 Miami victory at Millett Hall.

UP NEXT: Miami travels to take on Marshall Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. 

RECENT PLAY: The Miami University men's basketball team dropped to St. Bonaventure 90-60 at the Reilly Center on Saturday afternoon. Darweshi Hunter led the RedHawks (2-3) with 17 points on the day. Ryan Mabrey had 13 points, and Jackson Kotecki added 10 points.

HUNTER GAMES: In his first five games with Miami, graduate transfer Darweshi Hunter has totaled 81 points and has knocked down 50% of his shots from the field. Hunter has recorded 13 three-point field goals on 40.6% shooting. His 16.2 points per game currently stands at 14th in the MAC.

MORRIS MADNESS: Sophomore Jaquel Morris ranks 94th nationally and fourth in the MAC in blocks per game (1.60). This season, Morris finds himself with a total of eight blocks (fourth in the MAC). So far, Morris has averaged 8.4 points (tied for second on the team), 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.2 assists and 0.6 steals. Last season, Morris recorded an average of 1.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.88 blocks, 0.8 assists and 0.34 steals a game.

FRESHMEN IMPACT: This season, Miami's freshmen have totaled 111 of 341 total points scored in the first five games played. 

Mekhi Cooper is currently averaging 6.0 points, 2.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals in Miami's first five games. Cooper is currently tied for the lead in assists per game (13 total). Cooper led Miami with two steals (career-high) in the first game of the season against Evansville.

Eian Elmer has averaged 2.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 0.2 assists and 0.2 steals in each game he's played. Elmer has played a large role in rebounding when he's on the court. On the season, Elmer led the RedHawks in rebounding against Evansville (seven rebounds) and St. Bonaventure (five rebounds). He also led the team in blocks versus Evansville. 

Evan Ipsaro has put up 7.8 points, 2.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game. Ipsaro is currently matching the team-high in assists per game (13 total). He scored the most points for Miami against Eastern Illinois with a career-high 18 points. Ipsaro led the team with five assists (career-high) against St. Bonaventure, and two steals versus Evansville (career-high). He also added a career-high four rebounds against St. Bonaventure.

Jackson Kotecki has totaled an average of 5.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.2 blocks and 0.2 steals. Kotecki recently recorded a career-high 10 points versus St. Bonaventure. In his first collegiate game, he had a very efficient performance. In nine minutes played, he totaled eight points on 4-4 from the field.

THE BRADLEY DEAN STORY: Bradley Dean sat down with MiamiRedHawks.com to discuss what drew him to join Miami Men's Basketball when the D2CCA All-American and SAC Player of the Year entered the transfer portal this offseason looking for a Division I opportunity on the hardwood. Check out the newest feature story here!

MIAMI CLASSIC: Three RedHawks were recognized for their play in the Miami Classic.

Bryce Bultman helped lead the RedHawks to a 2-0 weekend and was named the Miami Classic MVP for his efforts. Bultman averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal to lead the RedHawks over Coppin State (76-48) and Eastern Illinois (76-64). He shot 45.5% from the field (10-of-22) and the three-point line (5-11) over the weekend. Against Coppin State, Bultman totaled 21 points (game-high), six rebounds, two steals and one assist. He finished with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists (game-high) versus Eastern Illinois. 

Evan Ipsaro was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 15.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.5 steals in the Miami Classic. He went a perfect 15-15 from the free-throw line as well. He shot 66.7% from the field (6-of-9) and the three-point line (4-6) over the weekend. Versus Coppin State, Ipsaro recorded 13.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and a steal. Against the Panthers, he had 18 points (team-high) and two rebounds. 

Darweshi Hunter was recognized as an All-Tournament member after putting up 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals. Hunter knocked down 7-8 attempts from the charity stripe. He put in 46.2% of his shots and went 37.5% from beyond the arc. He produced 6.0 points, 5.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and a steal against Coppin State. In the Eastern Illinois game, Hunter poured in 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals.

FRESH ON THE SCENE: Bryce Bultman is a guard from McKendree university where he averaged 15.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists. In his final year with McKendree, Bultman earned Unanimous First Team All-GLVC, NABC All District All-Midwest District First Team and D2CAA First Team All-Region.

Bradley Dean is a guard from the University of Virginia College at Wise. During his tenure he averaged 14.8 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds. In his last campaign with the team, Dean was named a member of the D2CCA All-Southeast Region First Team, he was a D2CCA All-American Honorable Mention and earned NABC Second Team Southeast All-District. He also was named the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Player of the Year and made First Team All-SAC.

Darweshi Hunter is a guard from Northern Illinois University. While attending he averaged 6.4 pts, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists with the Huskies. Prior to Northern Illinois, Hunter attended both Weber State and Central State (division II). While attending Central State, Hunter was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Associations (D2CCA), All-South Region First Team and All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) First Team. He also earned SIAC Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

MAC PRESEASON POLL & TEAMS: The Mid-American Conference released its annual men's basketball preseason poll. The Miami University RedHawks were selected to finish in a tie with Bowling Green at sixth place across all MAC schools. Senior Anderson Mirambeaux was selected to Second Team All-MAC.Mirambeaux is coming off the 2022-23 season where he earned Honorable Mention All-MAC after ranking 18th in the conference with a 14.2 scoring average. He was 10th in rebounds (5.7), 20th in assists (2.6), sixth in field goal percentage (54.2%), 16th in free throw percentage (76.4%) and seventh in blocks (0.9). He scored in double figures 24 times and recorded two double-doubles this season. Mirambeaux also had a career-high 27 points against Evansville in his first game for Miami.