OXFORD, Oh -- Coming off a disappointing loss at Northern Kentucky, the Miami RedHawks flexed . . .
"I thought it was a carryover from (the) last game," Miami head coach Jack Owens said. "A lot of guys in that locker room were upset that we lost (to NKU) and they were ready to get back out tonight. They did a great job."
Sophomore Nike Sibande led the way with 24 points, while Jalen Adaway dropped in 18. Dalonte Brown also reached double figures with 11, but they all came in the first half as he got tangled up with a defender on a fast break near the end of the first half and was force to leave the game.
The leg injury was a cast something of a shadow on a first half in which the RedHawks dominated at times.
The Bulldogs, known for switching defenses quickly and often, according to Owens, briefly stifled Miami with a zone early. After tailing 12-4, SCSU pulled even at 20-all midway through the first stanza.
After Bam Bowman moved the hosts back in front with a free throw, RedHawk shooters caught fire. Sibande and Brown followed with triples as Miami went on a 26-4 run -- nearly doubling up the Bulldogs at 46-26 at the time of Brown’s injury. MU held a 49-26 lead when Isaiah Coleman-Lands banked and rattled in a heave at the buzzer.
"In the middle of the first half, they were on a run. After a time out, we got locked in and went on an unbelievable run. I believe we stopped them (on) 13 of their 16 possessions -- and we scored!
The RedHawks connected on 51.4 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent (9-of-19) outside the arc before the break.
Hounded by Mami’s defense, the Bulldogs hit 8-of-21 (38.1%) from the floor and committed nine turnovers, which Miami turned into 15 points. On the night, the RedHawks registered nine steals, five of them courtesy of point guard Darrian Ringo. The senior picked up a couple early fouls, causing him to get just 5:52 minutes on the court in the first half. He resumed his intensity, however, upon return and picked all five steals after intermission while finishing with three fouls.
While Ringo was hit with just one foul after intermission, the whistled were busy, especially during a four-minute stretch starting at 14:12. Neither team could manage much momentum and they played to a near draw (MU 30-29) over the final 20 minutes of play.