OXFORD, Ohio— Fifth-year senior Mekhi Lairy scored 26 points in his final regular-season home game Saturday to lift the Miami University men's basketball team to a convincing 85-68 victory over rival Ohio. Morgan Safford added 24 points and Anderson Mirambeaux contributed 13 for the RedHawks (11-18, 5-11 MAC), who won their third straight game. Jaylin Hunter and Dwight Wilson each had 19 points for the Bobcats (17-12, 9-7 MAC).
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a back-and-forth opening five minutes, Miami used a 9-0 run to go on top 20-16 on a Kamari Williams three-pointer. The Bobcats would score the next five points to regain the lead, but Lairy responded with a step-back triple and the RedHawks would not trail again.
• Back-to-back jumpers from Safford and Lairy gave Miami a 32-28 cushion with 5:30 to go, although Ohio fought back to tie the game at 34-34. Miami scored six straight from there to take its largest lead of the half, sparked by another Williams three-pointer. The RedHawks eventually took a 40-38 lead into the locker room.
• Safford set the tone for Miami early in the second half with a breakaway dunk to stretch the RedHawks' lead back to a half dozen. He added a three-point play a minute later, which gave the Red and White a 49-41 cushion. After OU answered back with seven straight points, Safford converted another old-fashioned three-point play to put Miami up 52-48 and keep the Bobcats at bay.
• Williams finished through contact and added a free throw to give the RedHawks their first double-digit advantage of the game, 68-58, at the 6:48 mark. Ohio drained a three at the other end, but Safford had the answer yet again with a three-pointer to make it 71-61 with six minutes to play. Ryan Mabrey put the exclamation mark on the game, pulling up from deep on a 2-on-2 break to spark a 14-2 game-sealing run over the final four minutes. Miami's margin grew to as much as 20 points late en route to an 85-68 victory.

NOTES

• Miami shot 65.2% from the field in the second half (15-23) and 60.8% for the game (31-51). 
• The RedHawks finished 10-19 from behind the arc (52.6%).
• Lairy moved into fourth place on the program's all-time career scoring list with 1,699, passing Eric Newsome (1984-88).
• Julian Lewis matched his career high with two blocked shots.
• Williams pulled down a career-high seven rebounds to help Miami to a 36-25 advantage on the boards.

UP NEXT:
Miami continues conference play by traveling to Western Michigan University this Tuesday, Feb. 28. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. in Kalamazoo, Mich.