• Blog
  • About Us
  • Links
  MAC Reporter Online

Second half rally sends Bulldogs past Miami

1/2/2016

 
PictureGeovonie McKnight led all scorers with a ;career-high 24 points (MRO/M. Smith)
By MIKE SMITH
​OXFORD
, OH – If the South Carolina State Bulldogs were tired, it certainly didn’t show Saturday as the Bulldogs rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat the Miami RedHawks 71-67 at Millett Hall.

"They just came out in the second half, and they had more energy than us," senior guard Geovonie McKnight said. "(They had) more physicality than what we were playing with, and that showed, because they out-rebounded us in the second half."

 
South Carolina State, a MEAC team located in Orangeburg, South Carolina has been on a road swing through Ohio. Before meeting Miami for the first time, SCSU played Ohio State on Dec. 27 and Akron Jan 30. Miami, in fact, was the sixth straight road game for the Bulldogs, who came up on the short end of all six decisions.
 
After 20 minutes of basketball, it appeared 
. . .

PictureEric Washington (16 points) was one of two RedHawks in double figures. (MRO/M. Smith)
. . . another loss might be in the offing. Miami, playing for the first time since a one-point loss at Dayton Dec. 22, appeared a little rusty early, but nonetheless grabbed a 5-3 lead at 16:29 following a trey by Zach McCormick. The RedHawks then expanded their advantage to 11 points on three occasions, eventually taking a 37-26 lead to the locker room.
 
The RedHawks built their advantage on some solid shooting. Although they were 3 of 9 from beyond the arc, the RedHawks connected on 48.3 percent (14 of 29) from the field overall and hit all six free throws.
 
South Carolina State shot just 34.8 percent (8 of 23) form the field and made 1 of 6 attempts from outside the arc. The Bulldogs missed four of 13 free throws, and would likewise miss four from the line after intermission. The difference was that  SCSU would get 23 attempts in the final stanza. That proved to be one of three key elements that turned the tide in their favor. The other two factors were (1)  employing a very effective zone and (2) hitting the boards.
 
Miami edged the visitors 17-16 in first half rebounds. By game’s end, the Bulldogs had a 38-28 rebounding advantage.
 
Second half play began with a flurry of whistles. Miami drew four fouls by the 17:38 mark and reached seven at 14:49. SCSU held out a little longer, committing its seventh at 13:35. But the Bulldogs had already cut the Miami lead seven by that point, and a 9-2 run pulled the visitors even at 45-all with 11:06 left.

NOTE: CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE
 
Chris Bryant hit the front end of a one-and-one to give Miami its last lead. Greg Mortimer followed with a pair of free throws to put SCSU in front for good. With Miami continuing to struggle against the zone, South Carolina State built up a nine-point (58-49) advantage with 5:38 left.

"They were able to live on the foul line in the second half, and not only did they go (there), they made them," said Miami head coach John Cooper, who pointed out the foul shots served a double whammy. Not only wee the Bulldogs getting points at the line, they were getting opportunities to set up in a zone defense. That turned out to be a problem as Miami once again struggled from the perimeter. 

"We weren't able to knock down shots when we needed to (in order) to loosen it up," Cooper said. "There were some times in the game where we had some (open) shots, and you've got to be able to knock '... em down."

 
Eric Washington hit Miami’s only trey of the second half as MU began to chip away. It was a 62-58 ballgame at 3:30. But the Bulldogs got two free throws from Eric Eaves and a tip-in by Riley to push South Carolina State up by eight (59-67).

"We weren't able to get them off the boards in the second half," Cooper said. "When they did miss, they were not only able to get offensive rebounds, but they were able to get ... stick-backs and keep balls alive."

PictureLJ Livingston goes up for a dunk during second half action Saturday. (MRO/M. Smith)
With just 1:22 left, Miami applied all the pressure it could muster and twice cut the lead to two points. The Bulldogs, however, were zeroed in at the line and made five straight charity tosses down the stretch to hold off the hosts.
 
South Carolina State made 19 of 23 field goals after intermission and raised its field goal percentage to 50 percent (12 of 24) in the second half. The Bulldogs were 3 of 11 on the day from distance. Eaves led all scorers the visitors 23 points, including nine (of 12) from the line. Ed Stephens (13) and Gabriel McCray (10) also reached double figures.
 
Thanks in part to Eaves, SCSU outscored Miami off the bench, 34-12. Miami had just two players in double figures. McKnight led all scorers with a career-high 24 points. Eric Washington contributed 16 points. After that, it dropped off to seven points from Livingston.
 

With the win, South Carolina State moved its record to 6-10 on the year. Miami, which has now lost three straight, fell to 6-7 in its last outing before opening conference play at Bowling Green Wednesday.


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    MAC Football 

    MAC FOOTBALL 
    2024
    REGULAR SEASON
    FINAL STANDINGS
    CLICK HERE

    Picture
    MAC Basketball 
    MAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

    MAC BASKETBALL
    STATISTICS

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Other

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly