CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Miami University men's basketball team dropped a 75-63 decision to Akron in the MAC Quarterfinals Thursday evening.
Anderson Mirambeaux led the RedHawks (15-17) with 17 points, while
Darweshi Hunter added 16 of his own. Akron advances to Friday's semifinal with this victory. Enrique Freeman led the Zips (22-10) with 30 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Mirambeaux opened the game with a hook shot and a mid-range jumper to make it 4-4 ball game at the start. The RedHawks knocked down a three-point shot on four straight possessions to take an early 18-9 lead with 14:50 to play in the first half. Mirambeaux hit back-to-back shots from behind the arc to propel the 12-2 run.
- A corner jumper from Hunter, followed by a turnaround jump shot from Mirambeaux, kept the RedHawks ahead 24-15 with just over 10 minutes of action left in the half. With 3:49 to play before the intermission, the Zips evened the score at 29 apiece. The Red and White entered halftime just behind the Zips at 37-35.
- Akron opened the second half on a 9-2 run to extend its lead to 46-37. A Hunter jumper and a pair of layups from Bradley Dean kept it a 10-point game at 53-43. The Red and White came within seven at 56-49 thanks to a Mekhi Cooper three. Cooper followed this up with two shots from the free-throw line, and Hunter flew to the basket for a layup to trail 61-53 with 6:45 to play. The Red and White would get no closer as the Zips closed out the game with a 75-63 victory.
GAME NOTES:
WHAT'S NEXT:
Miami concludes its stint in the MAC Tournament.
