Nick Perkins puts up a shot over Logan McLane. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami RedHawks had been tantalizingly close – but ultimately short – while falling four straight times over the last two weeks. They finally got over the hump Tuesday, and a big hump it was as MU knocked off MAC-leading Buffalo 84-81 at Millett Hall.
Freshman Nike Sibande led the RedHawks, who rallied from a 41-36 halftime deficit and held off heavy Buffalo . . .
OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami RedHawks had been tantalizingly close – but ultimately short – while falling four straight times over the last two weeks. They finally got over the hump Tuesday, and a big hump it was as MU knocked off MAC-leading Buffalo 84-81 at Millett Hall.
Freshman Nike Sibande led the RedHawks, who rallied from a 41-36 halftime deficit and held off heavy Buffalo . . .
Isaiah Coleman Lands puts up one of his five successful 3-point shots. The freshman's 17 points was a career high. (MVSmith/MRO) . . . pressure down the stretch. Delonte Brown and Isaiah Coleman-Lands each tallied 17 points for the hosts, with the latter helping MU own a 25-21 advantage in points off the bench. The freshman hit 5 of 7 shots from the field – all from beyond the arc.
"It felt good. I had it going for a while there," said Coleman-Lands, who credited his teammates for finding him. He also noted the young squad has considerably more chemistry than when MU lost at Buffalo in MAC Week 2.
Point guard Darrian Ringo rounded out Miami’s double figure scoring with 11 points, adding five assists and three steals while registering just one turnover.
Eleven total turnovers was part of its winning formula for MU, which had committed 34 over its last two outings – a one-point loss at Eastern Michigan and overtime setback at Ohio.
"We've been one or two possessions away (from a win) the last two to four games," Miami head coach Jack Owens said. "However, you slice it, we've been right there."
"It felt good. I had it going for a while there," said Coleman-Lands, who credited his teammates for finding him. He also noted the young squad has considerably more chemistry than when MU lost at Buffalo in MAC Week 2.
Point guard Darrian Ringo rounded out Miami’s double figure scoring with 11 points, adding five assists and three steals while registering just one turnover.
Eleven total turnovers was part of its winning formula for MU, which had committed 34 over its last two outings – a one-point loss at Eastern Michigan and overtime setback at Ohio.
"We've been one or two possessions away (from a win) the last two to four games," Miami head coach Jack Owens said. "However, you slice it, we've been right there."
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Darrian Ringo zips a pass through heavy traffic. The junior leads the MAC in assists, assists-to-turnovers and steals per game. (MVSmith/MRO)
Bam Bowman (14) battles Ikenna Smart for a rebound. (MVSmith/MRO) The RedHawks also helped themselves at the foul line, which was a troublesome area earlier in the season. MU hit 13 of 16 (81.3%) against Buffalo. Six straight came in the final minute before two misses in the closing seconds.
Forward Bam Bowman provided the first two with 31 seconds left. "I was proud of Bam. I believe we were up three ... and he steps up and knocked down two big free throws," Owens said.
Sibande followed with four of his own before missing a pair with just two seconds left. By that point, the RedHawks were up six -- more than enough to survive Jeremy's Harris' buzzer-beating toss from beyond half court.
Harris, a 6-7 junior guard, had a big night for UB, easily topping his 14.8 ppg average with a game-high 23 points. He went 9 of 17 from the field and 5 of 9 on triple attempts. Harris also led the Bulls with eight rebounds.
"He scores from the perimeter. He scores inside. He's just tough," Owens said
Forward Bam Bowman provided the first two with 31 seconds left. "I was proud of Bam. I believe we were up three ... and he steps up and knocked down two big free throws," Owens said.
Sibande followed with four of his own before missing a pair with just two seconds left. By that point, the RedHawks were up six -- more than enough to survive Jeremy's Harris' buzzer-beating toss from beyond half court.
Harris, a 6-7 junior guard, had a big night for UB, easily topping his 14.8 ppg average with a game-high 23 points. He went 9 of 17 from the field and 5 of 9 on triple attempts. Harris also led the Bulls with eight rebounds.
"He scores from the perimeter. He scores inside. He's just tough," Owens said
Jeremy Harris, shooting over Dalonte Brown, scored a game-high 23 points. (MVSmith/MRO) Junior forward Nick Perkins and senior guard Will Clark each registered 18 points, while sophomore Davonta Jordan hit 5 of 7 from the floor on the way to 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal.
Together, the two teams combined for 17 steals, with Miami owning a 10-7 advantage.
Buffalo, which pulled away in the second half for an 82-66 victory in mid-January, got off to a quick start in the rematch by jumping out to a 10-2 lead by the 17:20 mark.
"Even though they made some tough shots to start the game, (we) just want(ed) to stick to the game plan and make them score in a half court and over the top of us," Owens said.
Miami took the early punch and fought back to trail 12-10.
And so it went for the remainder of the opening period. Buffalo would expand its lead – sometimes into double digits and once reaching 11 points. MU would then close the gap, eventually pulling within three before going into halftime down five.
Together, the two teams combined for 17 steals, with Miami owning a 10-7 advantage.
Buffalo, which pulled away in the second half for an 82-66 victory in mid-January, got off to a quick start in the rematch by jumping out to a 10-2 lead by the 17:20 mark.
"Even though they made some tough shots to start the game, (we) just want(ed) to stick to the game plan and make them score in a half court and over the top of us," Owens said.
Miami took the early punch and fought back to trail 12-10.
And so it went for the remainder of the opening period. Buffalo would expand its lead – sometimes into double digits and once reaching 11 points. MU would then close the gap, eventually pulling within three before going into halftime down five.
Senior guard Wes Clark made 7 of 11 shots from the field while contributing 18 points to the Bulls' cause. (MVSmith/MRO)
Of course, it had been a one-possession Miami deficit before the RedHawks stumbled badly in the second stanza back in January. Owens said he watched that tape a couple times to see what went wrong. Some of issues, however, simply came back to youth and inexperience facing a squad that started MAC play with eight consecutive wins.
When play resumed this time, Miami was able to step up. A 9-2 RedHawk run to start the second half gave the hosts their first lead. Brown’s dunk put MU in front 45-43 and the two teams battled through the next several minutes with multiple lead changes and ties.
When play resumed this time, Miami was able to step up. A 9-2 RedHawk run to start the second half gave the hosts their first lead. Brown’s dunk put MU in front 45-43 and the two teams battled through the next several minutes with multiple lead changes and ties.
Nike Sibande beats Ikeena Smart to a loose ball. (MVSmith/MRO) A Coleman-Lands triple at 12:06 moved Miami ahead 54-53 and the RedHawks then built their own double-digit lead. Two Sibande free throws at 8:47 made it a 67-56 contest. Buffalo pulled within two at 80-78 before MU put its win away at the foul line.
"It was definitely a big win for us," Coleman-Lands said. "We showed that we can play with anybody in this league. (Coach Owens) was just telling us we've got to keep the ball rolling."
"We're a tough-minded team," Owens said. "They knew what was at stake today. ... (With) the way we were able to finish the game and (with) how everyone contributed to the win, I'm just happy for the guys," Owens said.
NEXT:
Both teams return to action Saturday. Miami is at Akron (2:00 p.m.) and Buffalo hosts Ohio (3:30 p.m.).
"It was definitely a big win for us," Coleman-Lands said. "We showed that we can play with anybody in this league. (Coach Owens) was just telling us we've got to keep the ball rolling."
"We're a tough-minded team," Owens said. "They knew what was at stake today. ... (With) the way we were able to finish the game and (with) how everyone contributed to the win, I'm just happy for the guys," Owens said.
NEXT:
Both teams return to action Saturday. Miami is at Akron (2:00 p.m.) and Buffalo hosts Ohio (3:30 p.m.).
Jalen Adaway rejects C.J. Massinburg's fastbreak layup attempt. (MVSmith/MRO) NOTES:
>>>> Each team had 30 field goals and made 11 3-point goals -- albeit Buffalo had 10 less tries outside the arc. Overall the Bulls finished at 52.6 percent from the floor to 50 percent for Miami. UB hit 47.8 percent from distance to 33.3 percent for Miami.
>>>>> MU had an 11-17 turnover advantage.
>>>> Buffalo won the battle of the boards, 34-28.
>>>>> Buffalo leads the MAC with a 12-3 conference record, but it has not won three straight games since a nine-game winning streak that started Dec. 28 and continued through Jan. 26.
>>>>> Miami’s last win prior to Tuesday was against Northern Illinois back on Feb. 3.
>>>> Each team had 30 field goals and made 11 3-point goals -- albeit Buffalo had 10 less tries outside the arc. Overall the Bulls finished at 52.6 percent from the floor to 50 percent for Miami. UB hit 47.8 percent from distance to 33.3 percent for Miami.
>>>>> MU had an 11-17 turnover advantage.
>>>> Buffalo won the battle of the boards, 34-28.
>>>>> Buffalo leads the MAC with a 12-3 conference record, but it has not won three straight games since a nine-game winning streak that started Dec. 28 and continued through Jan. 26.
>>>>> Miami’s last win prior to Tuesday was against Northern Illinois back on Feb. 3.
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