Miami shot 58.2 percent (32-for-55), including 12-for-27 (44.4 percent) from behind the arc. Sophomore forward Dalonte Brown recorded his first career 20-point game, putting in 25 points on 9-for-11 shooting in 31 minutes of action. That included 4-for-5 from three-point range. Brown just missed a double-double, bringing in a team-high nine rebounds.
Brown hit back-to-back three-pointers to get the RedHawks back within one. He continued to control the offense, getting another triple to give Miami a one-point lead at 32-31 with 5:42 to go.
NDSU pushed the lead to four at 40-36, before a pair of free throws by Sibande and a layup from Bowman tied the score at 40. The Bison hit a layup in the final seconds to take a 42-40 advantage into the break.
Brown led Miami with 11 points at the half. The RedHawks shot 16-for-26 (61.5 percent) for the period. North Dakota State was able to build its advantage with 11 three-pointers made out of its 14 total baskets that half.
Senior guard Darrian Ringo opened the second half with a layup to tie the score, but the Bison were able to regain a 50-47 advantage with 16:18 to go. Sibande drove to the bucket for a layup and was fouled. He tied the contest by completing the old-fashioned three-point play. Brown then put the RedHawks on top with a bucket, before a three-pointer by NDSU made it 53-52 at the 14:41 mark. It would be the last time the Bison would have the advantage.
A three-pointer from Sibande and an old-fashioned three-point play from Brown helped give Miami a 60-54 lead. Freshman forward Elijah McNamara buried back-to-back triples to increase the advantage to 66-54 with 11:12 to go. The RedHawks had the lead as large as 14 after a Sibande jumper made it 74-60 at the 7:20 mark.
North Dakota State went on a 13-3 run over the next five and a half minutes to pull within six at 78-72 with 1:57 to go. Ringo then found sophomore guard Jalen Adaway for a huge three-pointer to give the ‘Hawks some breathing room. The Bison hit one free throw on their next offensive possession, but a Ringo layup made it 83-74 with 1:00 to go. Miami hit its free throws down the stretch to finish off an 89-78 win.
Sibande finished with 19 points for the RedHawks, while Ringo had 10 points, seven assists and two steals in 30 minutes of action.
Miami’s defense clamped down on North Dakota State in the second half, holding it to 2-for-14 shooting (14.3 percent) from behind the arc and 7-for-27 (25.9 percent) overall. The RedHawks held a 33-24 advantage on the boards.
The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase continues Saturday as Miami takes on Montana, a 93-66 winner over Incarnate Word in its first round game on Friday, at 5 p.m