The win snapped a . . .
"I was really pleased that we were able to come away with a win," said CMU coach Keno Davis, whose team last played at home on Dec. 6, when it posted an 84-75 nonleague victory over UT Martin. "Coming off of not playing here in what seems like forever, it's nice to be able to get the win, start off conference play (1-0), and we'll get ready for Tuesday."
Nike Sibande led MU with 22 points, followed by MeKhi Lairy with 18. Dae Dae Grant and Dalonte Brown also reached double figures with 11 apiece.
How It Happened
Morgan hit all five of his second-half 3-point attempts in finishing five for seven from long range for the game. He was nine for 14 from the floor overall.
Morgan hit back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the second half as the Chippewas finally put some space between themselves and the pesky RedHawks. Morgan's triple with 11:05 to play gave CMU a 66-55 lead, and another Morgan 3-pointer with 5:00 left put the Chippewas up 15, 80-65, their largest lead of the second half.
Miami never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.
"First half, I came out and missed a few shots," Morgan said. "But then my teammates were telling me to stay confident and keep shooting the ball. Second half is a new half, and I just continued to do what I know how to do, which is to shoot the ball."
NOTES
>> The Chippewas needed all 15 of the 3-pointers they got because Miami was just as hot from long range. The RedHawks finished 13 of 25 (52 percent) from beyond the arc, while CMU was 15 of 29 (51.7 percent).
>> CMU's Devontae Lane, Travon Broadway Jr. and David DiLeo each hit three 3-pointers. The trio combined with Morgan to make 14 of 23 (60.8 percent) from long range. DiLeo had 16 points, while Lane had 14, Kevin McKay added 13.
>> Montgomery, a 6-foot-7 senior, scored 11 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds.
>> Miami's big men "were physical," Montgomery said. "They played hard. I just went there and played as hard as I could. I tried to dominate the paint. Our assistant coach, coach Chris Tifft, has been on me about owning the paint, wanting me to be down there, and be that guy that's in control down there."