Willie conner goes in for a dunk. Conner had 16 points, but Miami pulled out a 75-74 win on Dion Wade's free throw with just over one second remaining (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Dion Wade registered just one point for the Miami RedHawks Tuesday, but it was a really big point.
The junior hit one of two free throws with 1.4 seconds left to lift Miami over Buffalo, 75-74, at Millett Hall. Buffalo pulled down the missed second try and called time out, but it was unable to get a shot off in time as Miami (9-11, 2-5 MAC) held on for its second win of the season.
The RedHawk victory . . .
OXFORD, OH -- Dion Wade registered just one point for the Miami RedHawks Tuesday, but it was a really big point.
The junior hit one of two free throws with 1.4 seconds left to lift Miami over Buffalo, 75-74, at Millett Hall. Buffalo pulled down the missed second try and called time out, but it was unable to get a shot off in time as Miami (9-11, 2-5 MAC) held on for its second win of the season.
The RedHawk victory . . .
Marcus Weathers drives to the hoop for two of his team-high 18 points. (MVSmith/MRO) . . . broke a five-game losing streak for MU, which had played just two home games in three weeks of MAC play. It defeated Northern Illinois and lost two first place Akron in its other two MAC home dates.
Buffalo (9-11, 3-4 MAC) came to Oxford on a two-game win streak and at times looked as though it might cruise to another victory. After a slow start, the Bulls began to roll. UB held a game-high 16 point-point lead (31-15) with 8:42 left in the first half.
It was still a 14-point Buffalo edge at 3:24, but the hosts scored six of the last seven points to make it a 39-31 game at the break. A 15-8 Bulls edge in points off turnovers proved helpful in keeping UB out front.
Miami outscored the visitors 12-6 when play resumed, pulling within two at 45-43 with 14:33 left.
Buffalo responded with nine unanswered points – all of them coming from sophomore forward Nick Perkins. He started the run with a dunk and ended it with a trey.
Buffalo (9-11, 3-4 MAC) came to Oxford on a two-game win streak and at times looked as though it might cruise to another victory. After a slow start, the Bulls began to roll. UB held a game-high 16 point-point lead (31-15) with 8:42 left in the first half.
It was still a 14-point Buffalo edge at 3:24, but the hosts scored six of the last seven points to make it a 39-31 game at the break. A 15-8 Bulls edge in points off turnovers proved helpful in keeping UB out front.
Miami outscored the visitors 12-6 when play resumed, pulling within two at 45-43 with 14:33 left.
Buffalo responded with nine unanswered points – all of them coming from sophomore forward Nick Perkins. He started the run with a dunk and ended it with a trey.
Nikola Rakicevic draws a foul from Dion Wade. (MVSmith/MRO) By the end of the night, Perkins would own a game-high 20 points on 9 of 18 from the field, along with one made free throw. Joining him in double figures were C.J. Massinburg and Willie Conner with 16 each. Conner, however, scored just three points in the second half.
Buffalo’s 54-43 lead at 11:46 was its last double-figure advantage. Miami again started to chip away. It finally caught UB at 64-all on a pair of Michael Weathers free throws. Twin brother Margus followed at 3:25 with a layup to give Miami its first lead since early in the first half.
There would be four more ties down the stretch, but Buffalo could not recover the lead.
Miami went up 72-68 following a Logan McLane basket at 1:08, only to five up a four-point play to Massinburg on a trey from the corner.
Jake Wright canned two free throw attempts for MU with 38 ticks left, but Perkins scored on a layup at the other end to knot the game once more – this time at 74-74.
Buffalo’s 54-43 lead at 11:46 was its last double-figure advantage. Miami again started to chip away. It finally caught UB at 64-all on a pair of Michael Weathers free throws. Twin brother Margus followed at 3:25 with a layup to give Miami its first lead since early in the first half.
There would be four more ties down the stretch, but Buffalo could not recover the lead.
Miami went up 72-68 following a Logan McLane basket at 1:08, only to five up a four-point play to Massinburg on a trey from the corner.
Jake Wright canned two free throw attempts for MU with 38 ticks left, but Perkins scored on a layup at the other end to knot the game once more – this time at 74-74.
Ikenna Smart covers Miami forward Logan McLane as he looks for an opening down low. McLane had six points and 10 rebounds in Miami's 75-74 win. (MVSmith/MRO) Miami, for all practical purposes, owned the clock with just 31 seconds left. Point guard Michael Weathers finally drove the lane, missing a layup attempt with five seconds to go. Rod Mills emerged from a scramble for the rebound and got it to Wade who tried to get off a final shot.
When a foul was called, Wade got his first free throw opportunities in seven MAC contest. He made the first, and that proved to be the winner.
Marcus Weathers led Miami with 18 points before fouling out with 56 seconds left. When Weathers departed, Wade re-entered the game. Michael Weathers totaled 16 points, while Jake Wright hit four treys and both his free throws on the way to 14 points.
Miami, which has struggled at times from the charity stripe, connected on 19 of 29 (65.5%) against UB. However, the Bulls performed similarly at the line. They made 18 of 27 tries (66.7%).
Both teams owned 25 field goals and 6 treys on the night. Miami was good on 45.5 percent from the field, while Buffalo hit 40.3 percent.
NEXT:
Miami remains on the home hardwood Saturday when it hosts Eastern Michigan (3:30 p.m. ET).
Buffalo remains on the road, visiting Akron Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET)
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When a foul was called, Wade got his first free throw opportunities in seven MAC contest. He made the first, and that proved to be the winner.
Marcus Weathers led Miami with 18 points before fouling out with 56 seconds left. When Weathers departed, Wade re-entered the game. Michael Weathers totaled 16 points, while Jake Wright hit four treys and both his free throws on the way to 14 points.
Miami, which has struggled at times from the charity stripe, connected on 19 of 29 (65.5%) against UB. However, the Bulls performed similarly at the line. They made 18 of 27 tries (66.7%).
Both teams owned 25 field goals and 6 treys on the night. Miami was good on 45.5 percent from the field, while Buffalo hit 40.3 percent.
NEXT:
Miami remains on the home hardwood Saturday when it hosts Eastern Michigan (3:30 p.m. ET).
Buffalo remains on the road, visiting Akron Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET)
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Michael Weathers scored 16 points and committed just three turnovers against Buffalo. (MVSmith/MRO)
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