• Blog
  • About Us
  • Links
  MAC Reporter Online

Free throws spell difference as Miami edges Broncos

2/9/2016

 
Picture
By MIKE SMITH
KALAMAZOO
, Mich -- Defense and free throws were staples for the Miami RedHawks Friday night as they posted their first road victory of the season with a 45-44 decision over Western Michigan at University Arena. It was Miami’s first victory against the Broncos after six straight defeats.
 
Sophomore Rod Mills broke a 44-all tie by making the first of two free throws with eight seconds left. WMU grabbed the rebound but was unable to score on a driving shot from the lane in the final seconds.
 
Miami, which lost its first seven conference outings during a 10-game losing streak, has now . . .


 . . . won three of its last four games to raise its record to 9-15 (3-8 MAC). Western Michigan dropped its third consecutive decision and joins Miami with identical marks (9-15, 3-8 MAC).
 
Mills toss was his only point of a low scoring contest. Only three players – two from Miami -- reached double figures. Senior guard Geovonie McKnight led all scorers with 15 points, while point guard Eric Washington added 13. The pair combined for MU’s last 10 points before Mills’ decisive shot.
 
Sophomore Thomas Wilder, who had scored 20 or more points in each of his last three games, paced Western Michigan with  13 points. Ten of those came after intermission as the Broncos battled back from a 24-18 halftime deficit.
 
Both teams struggled with shooting and registered six field goals apiece in the opening period. Miami was 6-for-18 (33.3 percent) and 2-of-10 on threes (20%).  WMU connected on 6-of-21 (28.6%) from the field overall and was 2-of-12 (16.7%) on treys. Miami’s six-point halftime advantage came at the free throw line. MU went 10-of-12 at the stripe, while the Broncos canned 4-of-7.
 
Miami did not score a field goal in the second half until a McKnight jumper at 12:10.  The next MU field goal was at 6:18 when the senior scored on a tough baseline jumper. He also scored at 4:35 in the lane, making him the only Miami player to score any field goals after intermission until Washington tallied from the lane at 3:48.
 
Western Michigan fouls, however, piled up early and the RedHawks used free throws to fend off the hosts. WMU pulled even five different times after intermission, but it never got the lead.
 
NOTES:
-- Western Michigan committed nine turnovers to 15 by Miami.
-- Miami edged the hosts 32-30 on the boards, although WMU registered nine offensive rebounds to just five for the visitors.
-- Miami hit 33.3 percent  (11-of-33) from the field, 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from beyond the arc and 21-of-28 at the line.
-- Western Michigan connected on 31.1 percent from the floor, 21.7 percent (5-of-23) on threes and 61.1 percent (11-of-18) at the stripe.
 
NEXT: 
Western Michigan is at Bowling Green (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET)

Miami travels to Toledo (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET)

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    MAC Football 

    MAC FOOTBALL 
    2024
    REGULAR SEASON
    FINAL STANDINGS
    CLICK HERE

    Picture
    MAC Basketball 
    MAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

    MAC BASKETBALL
    STATISTICS

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Other

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly