MUNCIE, Ind.— The Miami University men's basketball team edged past Ball State 87-80 in an overtime win Saturday afternoon. Anderson Mirambeaux led five RedHawks (9-9, 3-3) who scored in double figures with 16 points, while Darweshi Hunter and Ryan Mabrey each added 15. Hunter's clutch three-pointer in the final second of regulation forced overtime, and Miami outscored the hosts 15-8 from there to claim a seven-point victory. Basheer Jihad led the Cardinals (9-9, 1-5 MAC) offensively with 29 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Miami started the game off by forcing back-to-back turnovers that led to transition layups to take a 4-0 lead at the start of play. A jump shot from Hunter gave the RedHawks an 8-0 advantage with 16:53 on the game clock. Mabrey put in a mid-range jump shot and followed it up with a shot from beyond the arc to maintain a 15-7 lead. Mekhi Cooper found Jaquel Morris for a thunderous slam with 13:02 remaining before the intermission.
• Cooper threaded the ball down the court to Mabrey for a shot from beyond the arc to give Miami its first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14. The Cardinals made an offensive push before Mirambeaux knocked in a pair of free throws to stay ahead by seven at 26-19. Ball State continued to fight, coming within three at 29-26 before Bryce Bultman ended the run with two shots from the charity stripe. Less than five minutes remained in the first half when Mirambeaux backed his way in to the paint for a fading jump shot to lead 32-28. Ball State evened the score at 32 apiece with 1:48 before the break. The RedHawks entered halftime on top 37-35.
• Bultman and Cooper each opened the second half of play with layups to hold the lead at 41-38, but Ball State responded with an 8-1 spurt to take a 46-42 lead. Mirambeaux found Morris with a behind-the-back pass to keep Miami within two at 50-48. Two consecutive threes from Hunter and Mabrey matched Ball State at 56-56 with 12:11 remaining.
• After a 10-0 Ball State run, Bultman found Reece Potter in the paint for a quick dunk to begin Miami's comeback. Bultman followed this up with a turnaround jump shot and a transition layup to trail 69-62 with 3:49 to play. Eian Elmer knocked down a clutch shot from downtown to trail by five at 70-65. With under a minute to play, an offensive rebound turned to points after Bultman put in a fading bucket to stay within three at 72-69. With time expiring, Hunter put in a three from the right wing to tie the game at 72-72 and force overtime.
• On Miami's first offensive possession in the extra session, Mirambeaux recorded a traditional three-point play after getting fouled and making a layup. Hunter knocked down his third three of the game to lead by 78-72 with 3:29 left. Cooper recorded a layup and Elmer scored a three to take a nine-point lead (83-74) with two minutes to play. The Red and White closed the game out with clutch free throws to secure an 87-80 victory.

GAME NOTES:

• Miami trailed 70-62 with just over three minutes remaining in the second half before closing regulation on a 10-2 run.
• The Red and White shot 50.8% from the field (32-of-63)
• Elmer had a career-high 10 rebounds and team-high two blocks.

 
WHAT'S NEXT:
The RedHawks travel north to take on Central Michigan Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, Mich.