1/11/2022

OXFORD, Ohio— The Miami men’s basketball team erased a double-digit deficit in the second half, but Toledo was able to hold off the RedHawks 75-72 Tuesday night at Millett Hall in a Mid-American Conference battle. Mekhi Lairy scored 17 points and handed out seven assists for Miami, while Dae Dae Grant added 16 points and Dalonte Brown contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.

Isaiah Coleman-Lands chipped in 12 points off the bench, and Precious Ayah recorded a career-high six blocked shots for the Red and White while also pulling down eight boards. Miami falls to 7-7, 1-2 MAC, while Toledo improves to 12-4, 4-1 MAC.


HOW IT HAPPENED

• Miami got out to an early lead, taking what would turn out to be its largest advantage at 18-11 just over five minutes into the contest.
• Toledo responded with a 22-6 run to take control, as the RedHawks cooled off from behind the arc after hitting five of their first seven three-point attempts.
• Lairy scored a team-high 11 points in the first half on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, but Miami trailed 44-33 at the break, matching the largest deficit of the game.
• The RedHawks roared back with a 9-0 run early in the second half to cut the Rockets’ lead to 47-46.
• After the teams traded a few baskets, a baseball pass from Grant ahead to Myja White led to a Marr Avance layup that put Miami up 58-56.
• Toledo took the lead for good at 60-58 with 8:48 to play.
• The RedHawks had the ball in the final minute trailing 71-69, but were unable to score.
• After Toledo hit four consecutive free throws down the stretch, Coleman-Lands drained a three-pointer in the last second of the game for the final margin.

NOTES

• Brown moved into 13th place on the all-time Miami scoring list with 1,409 points, passing Wayne Embry (1,401 points from 1956-1958).
• Ayah’s six blocks ties for the third-highest total all-time in Miami single-game history, behind only Kevin Beard and Ron Harper (seven blocked shots in one game)
• Miami outscored Toledo 16-2 in bench points.
• The RedHawks’ nine blocked shots as a team ties for Miami’s sixth-highest total all-time.
• Miami leads the all-time series 68-65.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks travel to Western Michigan Saturday, Jan. 15 to take on the Broncos in MAC play. Tip time in Kalamazoo, Mich. is scheduled for 2 p.m.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS