RedHawks down Mustangs for NCAA tourney win
Threes and board work key win over SMU
By MIKE SMITH
DAYTON, OH -- Eian Elmer scored 23 points and the RedHawks hit 16 of 41 3-point goals while knocking off Southern Methodist University 89-79 Wednesday in NCAA First Four action at UD. Arena
While the Mustangs were generally favored coming into the game, MU led most of the way, fighting off an SMU second half rally to win by 10.
"The reason people love March Madness is they love to see 'upsets,'" Miami head coach Travis Steele said in post-game comments. "This wasn't an upset tonight at all. But people are going to say it was,"
he added before saying his team wasn't done.
Tennessee, a No. 6 seed, will . . .
DAYTON, OH -- Eian Elmer scored 23 points and the RedHawks hit 16 of 41 3-point goals while knocking off Southern Methodist University 89-79 Wednesday in NCAA First Four action at UD. Arena
While the Mustangs were generally favored coming into the game, MU led most of the way, fighting off an SMU second half rally to win by 10.
"The reason people love March Madness is they love to see 'upsets,'" Miami head coach Travis Steele said in post-game comments. "This wasn't an upset tonight at all. But people are going to say it was,"
he added before saying his team wasn't done.
Tennessee, a No. 6 seed, will . . .
. . . be Miami's next opponent. That matchup will take place Friday (approximately 4:25 p.m.) in Philadelphia. TBS is carrying that game.
One of the RedHawks' keys for success, facing a taller and very athletic opponent, was to match SMU on the boards. It was rebounding issues that paved the way for Miami's loss during the recent MAC tournament. However, the issue was addressed in practice, and it paid off Wednesday. Miami and SMU finished with 35 rebounds apiece.
Steele also set a goal for shooting 40 threes against the Mustangs. MU totaled 41, sinking 16 (39%). The threes were critical against an SMU lineup that included Samet Yigitoglu. a 7-foot-2 sophomore in the middle.
Five different RedHawks scored from beyond the arc, but Elmer was particularly productive. He hit 6 of 9 treys while making 8 of 11 shots from the field overall. Brant Byers, meanwhile connected on f of 9 triples while scoring 19 points. Luke Skaljac tallied 17 and Almar Atlason added 12 in 24 minutes off the bench.
Jaden Toombs led the Mustangs with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. He made 8 of 10 shots from the field and all four free throw attempts. Jaron Pierre Jr. (18), Boopie Miller (15) and Corey Washington (13) also reached double figures.
Southern Methodist connected on 48 percent from the field (31 of 65), while Miami scored on 29 of 64 (45%) overall. The RedHawks made three more free throws 15/22 to 12/15.
SMU enjoyed a some small early leads before Miami moved in front midway through the first perio. Elmer's triple at 9:55 put the RedHawks up 15-13.
MU's lead expanded to 10 points on several occasions before Miller scored on a layup to bring the Mustangs within two at 34-32 at 2:13. A 9-2 RedHawks run to finish the period allowed Miami to take a 43-34 advantage to intermission.
SMU chipped away early in the second stanza and drew even (47-47) on a Sam Walters layupat 14:51. After a Suder free throw, the Mustangs then grabbed their last lead of the night on a Corey Washington dunk.
Encouraged by a large pro-RedHawks crowd, Miami, came storming back. Suder's jumper at the other end ignited a 15-1 RedHawks run. SMU twice trailed by 13 and could get no closer than seven after that.
One of the RedHawks' keys for success, facing a taller and very athletic opponent, was to match SMU on the boards. It was rebounding issues that paved the way for Miami's loss during the recent MAC tournament. However, the issue was addressed in practice, and it paid off Wednesday. Miami and SMU finished with 35 rebounds apiece.
Steele also set a goal for shooting 40 threes against the Mustangs. MU totaled 41, sinking 16 (39%). The threes were critical against an SMU lineup that included Samet Yigitoglu. a 7-foot-2 sophomore in the middle.
Five different RedHawks scored from beyond the arc, but Elmer was particularly productive. He hit 6 of 9 treys while making 8 of 11 shots from the field overall. Brant Byers, meanwhile connected on f of 9 triples while scoring 19 points. Luke Skaljac tallied 17 and Almar Atlason added 12 in 24 minutes off the bench.
Jaden Toombs led the Mustangs with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. He made 8 of 10 shots from the field and all four free throw attempts. Jaron Pierre Jr. (18), Boopie Miller (15) and Corey Washington (13) also reached double figures.
Southern Methodist connected on 48 percent from the field (31 of 65), while Miami scored on 29 of 64 (45%) overall. The RedHawks made three more free throws 15/22 to 12/15.
SMU enjoyed a some small early leads before Miami moved in front midway through the first perio. Elmer's triple at 9:55 put the RedHawks up 15-13.
MU's lead expanded to 10 points on several occasions before Miller scored on a layup to bring the Mustangs within two at 34-32 at 2:13. A 9-2 RedHawks run to finish the period allowed Miami to take a 43-34 advantage to intermission.
SMU chipped away early in the second stanza and drew even (47-47) on a Sam Walters layupat 14:51. After a Suder free throw, the Mustangs then grabbed their last lead of the night on a Corey Washington dunk.
Encouraged by a large pro-RedHawks crowd, Miami, came storming back. Suder's jumper at the other end ignited a 15-1 RedHawks run. SMU twice trailed by 13 and could get no closer than seven after that.
NOTES:
• Attendance was listed at 12,558.
• Despite the uptempo pace, MU registered just four turnovers.
• Miami recorded 20 assists
• Both teams had 12 offensive rebounds and 23 defensive rebounds.
• Elmer and Skaljac combined for 26 of Miami's first 28 points.
• On a night of many key shots - especially threes -- Elmer earned some roars from the crown on a pair of two-point shots. One came up a beautiful bounced pass assist from Suder, who was flying out of bounds while tracking down an outlet pass. The ball bounced high, and Elmer -- trailing on the break -- redirected it into the basket.
Elmer's other giant crown pleaser was a late one-handed stuff shot as he broke down the baseline and took a feed from Atlason. It gave Miami a nine point lead with 59 seconds left and served as an exclamation point for MU's victory.
• Attendance was listed at 12,558.
• Despite the uptempo pace, MU registered just four turnovers.
• Miami recorded 20 assists
• Both teams had 12 offensive rebounds and 23 defensive rebounds.
• Elmer and Skaljac combined for 26 of Miami's first 28 points.
• On a night of many key shots - especially threes -- Elmer earned some roars from the crown on a pair of two-point shots. One came up a beautiful bounced pass assist from Suder, who was flying out of bounds while tracking down an outlet pass. The ball bounced high, and Elmer -- trailing on the break -- redirected it into the basket.
Elmer's other giant crown pleaser was a late one-handed stuff shot as he broke down the baseline and took a feed from Atlason. It gave Miami a nine point lead with 59 seconds left and served as an exclamation point for MU's victory.
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