ATHENS, Ohio—The Miami University men's basketball team dropped a 78-68 decision against Ohio University on Saturday afternoon. Mekhi Lairy led the RedHawks (7-16, 1-9 MAC) with a game-high 24 points and three assists. Morgan Safford added an additional 18 points and five rebounds, while Ohio's (12-11, 4-6 MAC) Jaylin Hunter had a team-high 23 points.

 HOW IT HAPPENED

• The RedHawks fell behind 4-0 at the start, although a layup from Anderson Mirambeaux and transition layup from Safford tied the game at 4-4 with 18:09 to play. The Bobcats took a five-point lead at 9-4, but the RedHawks closed within two points after Safford dished out an assist to Jaquel Morris for a layup. A three-point jump shot from Julian Lewis kept Miami within one point at 16-15 with 8:41 to play in the first half.
• Bryson Tatum knocked down a shot from beyond the arc to keep it a one possession game at 20-18. Safford scored on back-to-back possessions to once again close within one point at 26-25. The RedHawks entered the intermission trailing 33-29 after Billy Smith made a driving layup.
• Miami struck first coming out of halftime with a Mirambeaux hook shot. The Bobcats attempted to pull away at 41-34, but a pair of free throws from Lairy and a Safford shot from downtown brought the score back within two points. Shortly after, Lairy scored on three consecutive possessions to keep Miami within striking distance at 53-48 with 11:25 on the game clock.
• Miami once again shrunk Ohio's lead to only two points at 53-51, but the Bobcats followed this by going on a 10-0 run to pull ahead 63-51 with 6:43 to play. The RedHawks battled until the end, ultimately falling 78-68.

NOTES

• Safford matched the game-high two steals.
• Mirambeaux recorded a team-high six rebounds.

UP NEXT:
Miami continues conference play by returning home to host Western Michigan University this Tuesday, Feb. 7. Tip time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio.