TUESDAY'S GAME: The RedHawks travel to take on conference opponent Western Michigan University this Tuesday, Feb. 28. This is Miami's 30th game of the season, and tip time is set for 7:00 p.m. at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich. 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 WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY: Dwayne Stephens is currently in his 1st season as the head coach of the Broncos. Coach Stephens graduated from Michigan State in 1993 and served as the associate head coach for the Spartans over the last decade. Prior to joining the Michigan State coaching staff, he spent time with Marquette and Oakland University as an assistant coach. Western Michigan University (WMU) is currently 7-22 and hold a 3-13 record in conference play. WMU most recently dropped to Akron 81-64. They currently have two players who average above double-digits in scoring, which includes guard Lamar Norman Jr. (17.6) and guard Tray Maddox Jr. (11.5). This year they are averaging 69.8 points per game and shoot 43.3% from the field. They have held their opponents to 74.2 points per game. The team also averages 12.5 assists and 36.8 rebounds in each game they play. 

THE SERIES WITH THE BRONCOS: Miami and Western Michigan first faced off 83 years ago, dating back to 1940. This Tuesday, will mark the 139th meeting between both teams. In the series, Miami holds a 54-12 home record, 31-37 away record and 3-1 neutral site record. 

UP NEXT: Miami continues conference play by traveling to the University at Buffalo this Friday, Mar. 3. Tip time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Buffalo, N.Y.

OHIO RECAP: 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. Miami shot 60% from the field (31-of-51) and knocked down 53% (10-of-19) of their shots from beyond the arc. Jaylin Hunter and Dwight Wilson each had 19 points for the Bobcats (17-12, 9-7 MAC).

REDHAWK TRIO: This season the RedHawks have three of the top 20 scorers in the MAC. This consists of team captains Mekhi Lairy (17.5, 5th overall), Morgan Safford (15.5, 12th overall) and Anderson Mirambeaux (14.0, 17th overall). Combined, the trio scores 47 of Miami's 74 points per contest. 

MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Mid-American Conference announced its weekly basketball awards on Monday. Miami fifth-year guard Mekhi Lairy was named MAC Player of the Week. It is his first MAC honor of the season. Lairy averaged 19.5 ppg, 4.5 apg and 4.0 rpg to lead Miami over Bowling Green (74-65) and Ohio (85-68). With his leadership, Miami has now extended its win streak to three games. Lairy shot 52.0 percent from the field (13-of-25) and went 80.0 percent (8-of-10) from the free-throw line over the week. Against Bowling Green, he scored 13 points with a game-high seven assists and four rebounds. He followed this with a game-high 26-point performance versus archrival Ohio. Lairy went 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from three-point range and added four rebounds to take home a win on Senior Day. 

LAIRY LEGEND: 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 broke Miami's career games played record this season. Lairy now has 1,699 career points. He is in fourth place on the program's all-time scoring list after passing Eric Newsome (1984-88) against Ohio on Feb. 25. On Feb. 14 versus Toledo, Lairy surpassed Jamie Mercurio (1989-92) to move into the number three spot in career assists. 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 two other 30-point scoring performances this season against Wright State and Bellarmine. 

CHART CLIMBER: Fifth year guard Mekhi Lairy is climbing several Miami career top 10 lists and continues to climb the points scored list. Here is where he stands entering Miami's next game:

• Free Throw Percentage: .871 (1st all-time)
• Games Played: 148 (1st all-time)
• 3-Point FG: 191 (6th, 2 away from tying No. 5)
• Assists: 429 (3rd, 9 away from No. 2)
• Scoring: 1,699 (4th, 129 away from No. 3)

SAFFORD SHOW: In his first year with Miami, Morgan Safford has already recorded over five 20-point games. Safford has also recorded the most double-doubles on the team this season at four total. He ranks sixth in the MAC in total double-doubles this year. So far he has set career-highs in points, rebounds and assists. Despite dealing with an injury early in the season, he set what was his previous career-high 26-points against Jackson State to lead the RedHawks to a 95-78 win. Safford most recently put up 24 points, five rebounds and four assists to help Miami defeat Ohio. 

LOCKED IN AT THE LINE: Miami University currently ranks 10th in the nation in free throw shooting percentage. As a team, the RedHawks are shooting 77.7%. Mekhi Lairy leads the way (91.5%), ranking fifth in the nation and first in the MAC. Anderson Mirambeaux ranks 15th in the MAC (76.5%) and Morgan Safford is currently listed at 17th in the MAC (75.5%).

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 .871 career free-throw percentage also ranks first. This season Lairy has went 119-130 from the free throw line. He has been perfect from the line in 19 of the 27 games where he has attempted a free-throw shot.

ACTION JACKSON: Senior walk-on Jackson Kenyon has made a strong impact in the final stretch of the season. Most recently, he recorded career-highs in points (4), assists (2) and minutes played (9:34) against Toledo. Kenyon also helped Miami top Western Michigan on Feb. 7, coming off the bench in the second half to provide a career-high four rebounds in four minutes and spark a game-clinching run. 

WHAT MAKES ANDERSON MIRAMBEAUX UNIQUE: In its 2022-23 season opener, Miami Men's Basketball started a post player who averaged all of 1.5 points per game last year with Cleveland State University. Anderson Mirambeaux, a 6-foot-8, 305-pound senior, had never played more than 15 minutes in a Division I basketball game before transferring to join the RedHawks. In his debut wearing the Red and White against Evansville on November 7, Mirambeaux dominated. Mirambeaux's career night might have come as a shock to nearly every person in Millett Hall that evening, but associate head coach Rob Summers wasn't surprised at all by Mirambeaux's 27-point outburst. Summers, who had worked with Mirambeaux at CSU last season before joining Travis Steele's new staff in Oxford, understood what the big man was capable of. For more on the story, check out his Front Row Feature! 

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. Mabrey has four older siblings, and they all played college basketball. Between them, they have made more than 1,000 career three-pointers (and counting). For more background on Mabrey, check out his Front Row Feature! 

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. Miami matched each of these shooting percentages against Ohio University this past Saturday.

FRESH ON THE SCENE: This year the RedHawks boast five freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors, three seniors and a fifth-year senior. 

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 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 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 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 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. This season Mirambeaux is averaging 14.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists.