Jake Wright scored a career-high 22 points (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, Ohio -- The Miami RedHawks’ shooting has been hot and cold this season. After struggling at Missouri Tuesday, MU got its touch back Saturday on the home court, and the hot hands helped Miami hold off Fort Wayne for an 81-73 win.
It was the third win in four games for Miami, which raised its overall record to 6-4 .
The RedHawks only loss over the last two-weeks . . .
OXFORD, Ohio -- The Miami RedHawks’ shooting has been hot and cold this season. After struggling at Missouri Tuesday, MU got its touch back Saturday on the home court, and the hot hands helped Miami hold off Fort Wayne for an 81-73 win.
It was the third win in four games for Miami, which raised its overall record to 6-4 .
The RedHawks only loss over the last two-weeks . . .
Bam Bowman drives against Cameron Benford. (MVSmith/MRO) . . . was a 71-50 setback at Missouri, where the Miami hit 32.3 percent overall and 20.8 percent from beyond the arc. Out of the five treys that night, senior Jake Wright had just one triple.
Wright, however, was on fire against Fort Wayne, scoring a career-high 22 points that included seven 3-point goals He generated 15 points in the first half before going to the bench with 3:53 remaining after drawing a third foul.
"Jake came in and ... was huge tonight," Miami head coach Jack Owens said. "The ball kept going in for him, and (Darrian) Ringo kept finding him and the guys just fed off of that."
Miami led by 12 when Wright departed and managed to take a nine point lead (46-37) into intermission.
The hosts quickly established a double digit advantage when play resumed, and maintained leads between seven and 10 points through the stanza’s mid-point.
Wright, however, was on fire against Fort Wayne, scoring a career-high 22 points that included seven 3-point goals He generated 15 points in the first half before going to the bench with 3:53 remaining after drawing a third foul.
"Jake came in and ... was huge tonight," Miami head coach Jack Owens said. "The ball kept going in for him, and (Darrian) Ringo kept finding him and the guys just fed off of that."
Miami led by 12 when Wright departed and managed to take a nine point lead (46-37) into intermission.
The hosts quickly established a double digit advantage when play resumed, and maintained leads between seven and 10 points through the stanza’s mid-point.
Dalonte Brown fires a key jumper to keep Miami in front. (MVSmith/MRO) Dalonte Brown’s dunk at the 8:00 mark left MU up 68-58, but Matt Weir contributed four points in a 6-0 Mastadon burst to pull within four.
After a pair of Nike Sibande free throws, Fort Wayne got an and-one three from Kason Harrell and jumper by Xzavier Taylor to pull within one at 70-69 with 3:38 remaining.
Brown drained a jumper for Miami and, after a steal by Isaiah Coleman-Lands, Sibande added a layup.
Fort Wayne twice pulled within three, with the last time being 76-73 with 1:04 left. However, the remaining points all went Miami’s way. Brown scored on a layup and the RedHawks added three free throws.
After a pair of Nike Sibande free throws, Fort Wayne got an and-one three from Kason Harrell and jumper by Xzavier Taylor to pull within one at 70-69 with 3:38 remaining.
Brown drained a jumper for Miami and, after a steal by Isaiah Coleman-Lands, Sibande added a layup.
Fort Wayne twice pulled within three, with the last time being 76-73 with 1:04 left. However, the remaining points all went Miami’s way. Brown scored on a layup and the RedHawks added three free throws.
Logan McLane drives against Fort Wayne forward Xzavier Taylor. McLane just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds, along with three blocks. (MVSmith/MRO) .MU shot 13 less free throws and made 10 less than Ft. Wayne on the day. The visitors also had advantages in points off turnovers (19-17) and points in the paint (32-26).
Miami carried the day on the strength of its shooting, hitting 53.7 percent (29 of 54) from the field overall and 56.0 percent (14 of 25) on treys. Wright provided half of the 3-pointers, hitting 7 of 13 attempts. Sibande was good on 4 of 5 from distance.
"I guess we can make shots," Owens said. "It was good to see the ball go in."
Joining Wright in double figures were Brown (17 on 8 of 10 from the field), Sibanded (16), and Logan McLane (12 points, 9 rebounds. Point guard Darrian Ringo tallied eight points with 11 assists against three turnovers. Howver, MU registered 18 turnovers as a whole.
Seniors Jordan King and Bryson Scott led Fort Wayne with 13 points each. The latter entered Saturday averaging 22.6 points per outing. Taylor, also a senior, chipped in an even dozen points, along with a team high eight boards.
"Bryson Scott is a very talented player," Owens said, adding that Scott is actually a cousin to Miami's Ringo.
Scott "is hard to guard, because he loves to drive the basketball and work downhill. But he's also a great free throw shooter, so it was important for us to just keep bodies in front of him and live with any rhythm threes that he was going to make."
As a team, the Mastodons hit 39.3 percent (24 of 61) from the floor and 26.1 percent (6 of 23) on threes. "Our guys stayed to the scouting report and game plan," Owens said. "We were able to get them out of rhythm."
Miami, which has exams this week, returns to action Sunday when it hosts Rio Grande in a 2 p.m. ET tilt.
Miami carried the day on the strength of its shooting, hitting 53.7 percent (29 of 54) from the field overall and 56.0 percent (14 of 25) on treys. Wright provided half of the 3-pointers, hitting 7 of 13 attempts. Sibande was good on 4 of 5 from distance.
"I guess we can make shots," Owens said. "It was good to see the ball go in."
Joining Wright in double figures were Brown (17 on 8 of 10 from the field), Sibanded (16), and Logan McLane (12 points, 9 rebounds. Point guard Darrian Ringo tallied eight points with 11 assists against three turnovers. Howver, MU registered 18 turnovers as a whole.
Seniors Jordan King and Bryson Scott led Fort Wayne with 13 points each. The latter entered Saturday averaging 22.6 points per outing. Taylor, also a senior, chipped in an even dozen points, along with a team high eight boards.
"Bryson Scott is a very talented player," Owens said, adding that Scott is actually a cousin to Miami's Ringo.
Scott "is hard to guard, because he loves to drive the basketball and work downhill. But he's also a great free throw shooter, so it was important for us to just keep bodies in front of him and live with any rhythm threes that he was going to make."
As a team, the Mastodons hit 39.3 percent (24 of 61) from the floor and 26.1 percent (6 of 23) on threes. "Our guys stayed to the scouting report and game plan," Owens said. "We were able to get them out of rhythm."
Miami, which has exams this week, returns to action Sunday when it hosts Rio Grande in a 2 p.m. ET tilt.
Jalen Adaway dishes off a pass to Logan McLane during a second half in which Miami fought off a Mastadon challenge. Xzavier Taylor (22) and John Konchar defend on the play. (MVSmith/MRO)
Halftime activities at the Miami vs Fort Wayne game included a demonstration by Power Pack, which uses a variety of spectacular dunks in its show. (MVSmith/MRO) NOTES:
>> Miami has played just three games at home thus far, but has won all three.
>> Fort Wayne had won the previous three meetings with MU. The Mastadons handed Miami an 87-71 setback last year in Fort Wayne.
>> Fort Wayne had won three straight before falling to Akron Wednesday, 83-79
>> The Mastodons entered Saturday averaging 11.1 3-point goals per game. They managed just six (6 of 23) against Miami.
>> While discussing rebounds in his post game comments, Miami coach Jack Owens quipped, "We crushed them by one." Miami edged Fort Wayne 36-35 overall, although the visitors had a 16-9 advantage on offensive rebounds.
>> MU had 18 assists, but also had 18 turnovers. The RedHawks recorded 11 steals, accounting for almost all of Fort Wayne's 12 turnovers.
>> Miami has played just three games at home thus far, but has won all three.
>> Fort Wayne had won the previous three meetings with MU. The Mastadons handed Miami an 87-71 setback last year in Fort Wayne.
>> Fort Wayne had won three straight before falling to Akron Wednesday, 83-79
>> The Mastodons entered Saturday averaging 11.1 3-point goals per game. They managed just six (6 of 23) against Miami.
>> While discussing rebounds in his post game comments, Miami coach Jack Owens quipped, "We crushed them by one." Miami edged Fort Wayne 36-35 overall, although the visitors had a 16-9 advantage on offensive rebounds.
>> MU had 18 assists, but also had 18 turnovers. The RedHawks recorded 11 steals, accounting for almost all of Fort Wayne's 12 turnovers.
Miami's Darrien Ringo battles John Konchar for a loose ball during second half action. (MVSmith/MRO)
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