Miami 70, Northern Illinois 58
Delonte Brown drives the baseline. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
Oxford, OH -- After not playing for three weeks, the Miami RedHawks entered Saturday’s home tilt against Northern Illinois with a question hanging over them. Would they be rusty, refreshed and/or ready?
The latter two seemed to apply as MU posted a 70-58 victory at Millett Hall for its first Mid-American Conference win of 1920-21. Northern Illinois, as it did earlier in the week at Ohio, rallied . . .
(Click Read More to continue . . . )
Oxford, OH -- After not playing for three weeks, the Miami RedHawks entered Saturday’s home tilt against Northern Illinois with a question hanging over them. Would they be rusty, refreshed and/or ready?
The latter two seemed to apply as MU posted a 70-58 victory at Millett Hall for its first Mid-American Conference win of 1920-21. Northern Illinois, as it did earlier in the week at Ohio, rallied . . .
(Click Read More to continue . . . )
Elijah McNamara had several big second half baskets to help Miami hold off a Huskie comeback bid. (MVSmith/MRO). . . . in the second half but came up short and fell to 1-9 on the season (0-5 MAC).
Elijah McNamara hit 6-of-10 from the field on the way to a team-high 15 points. Several of his baskets helped Miami (4-3, 1-1 MAC) stave off Huskie post-intermission challenges. Mekhi Lairy made 5-of-7 shots while contributing 13 points. Myja White and Dae Dae Grant provided 12 apiece to round out MU’s double figure scoring.
The Huskies, meanwhile, had just two double figure scorers. Trendon Hankerson led NIU with a game-high 16 points, while forward Chinedu Okanu provided 12 off the bench.
Overall, Northern Illinois shot a healthy 47.7 percent from the field. The visitors knocked down 6-of-17 (35.3%) from beyond the arc and hit 10-of-19 free throw tosses. Miami, however, was far from rusty and exceeded 50 percent from both the field (55.2%) and beyond the arc (55.6%). The RedHawks hit four more field goals, including four more treys. Both teams earned 10 points at the free throw line.
Elijah McNamara hit 6-of-10 from the field on the way to a team-high 15 points. Several of his baskets helped Miami (4-3, 1-1 MAC) stave off Huskie post-intermission challenges. Mekhi Lairy made 5-of-7 shots while contributing 13 points. Myja White and Dae Dae Grant provided 12 apiece to round out MU’s double figure scoring.
The Huskies, meanwhile, had just two double figure scorers. Trendon Hankerson led NIU with a game-high 16 points, while forward Chinedu Okanu provided 12 off the bench.
Overall, Northern Illinois shot a healthy 47.7 percent from the field. The visitors knocked down 6-of-17 (35.3%) from beyond the arc and hit 10-of-19 free throw tosses. Miami, however, was far from rusty and exceeded 50 percent from both the field (55.2%) and beyond the arc (55.6%). The RedHawks hit four more field goals, including four more treys. Both teams earned 10 points at the free throw line.
Chinedu Okanu snags a rebound in traffic. (MVSmith/MRO)
Precious Ayeh works against Chinedu Okanu. (MVSmith/MRO) On the night, Northern Illinois enjoyed a lead for just 1:23, and that came early. Okanu’s free throw at 15:53 put the Huskies up 6-3. Lairy’s triple at the other end tied things and Precious Ayah followed with two buckets inside to kick-start a 13-2 Miami run. The RedHawks would never trail again and led by as many as 19 after Grant’s jumper at 1:41 of the first stanza.
No small part of MU’s success was its success from afar. The RedHawks hit 8-of-12 tries (66.7%) in trey attempts. Miami also owned a 12-0 advantage on points off turnovers.
Four MU free throws to start the second half gave the hosts a 44-24 lead. Northern Illinois, however, used the next 10 minutes to chip away at its deficit. Hankerson’s 3-ball at 8:31 pulled the visitors within seven at 52-45.
Lairy hit a jumper in the lane for Miami and Delonte Brown followed with a jumper to re-establish a double-digit lead. When NIU pulled within nine, the Lairy and McNamara provided all 10 points in a 10-2 RedHawk run that effectively put the game away.
No small part of MU’s success was its success from afar. The RedHawks hit 8-of-12 tries (66.7%) in trey attempts. Miami also owned a 12-0 advantage on points off turnovers.
Four MU free throws to start the second half gave the hosts a 44-24 lead. Northern Illinois, however, used the next 10 minutes to chip away at its deficit. Hankerson’s 3-ball at 8:31 pulled the visitors within seven at 52-45.
Lairy hit a jumper in the lane for Miami and Delonte Brown followed with a jumper to re-establish a double-digit lead. When NIU pulled within nine, the Lairy and McNamara provided all 10 points in a 10-2 RedHawk run that effectively put the game away.
Darius Beane (24), Javin Etzler (0) and Nathan Scott (25) react to a loose ball. (MVSmith/MRO)
 Trendon Hankerson scored a game-high 16 points. (MVSmith/MRO)  Mekhi Lairy scored 13 points and had five assists. (MVSmith/MRO)  Isaiah Coleman-Lands drives the lane. (MVSmith/MRO)  Chinedu Okanu goes up for two of his 12 points. (MVSmith/MRO) |  Chinedu Okanu tries to get a time out after recovering a loose ball.(MVSmith/MRO)  Isaiah Coleman-Lands registered a game-high four steals and dished out three assists. (MVSmith/MRO)   Nathan Scott draws a foul while being defended by Precious Ayeh. (MVSmith/MRO) |
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