2/4/2022

AKRON, Ohio—Dae Dae Grant scored 18 points to lead the RedHawks but it was not enough as the Miami University men’s basketball team (9-12; 3-7 Mid-American Conference) dropped a 66-55 decision at the University of Akron (14-6; 7-3 MAC) on Friday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Miami put together a 14-2 run to leap out to a 14-7 lead by the 13:32 mark. Grant scored eight points during the surge, including a triple to cap the flurry.
• Akron used a 13-2 run to push ahead to a five-point advantage and the Zips eventually extended their lead to six twice late in the half.
• A jumper by Elijah McNamara and layup from Grant put the RedHawks within two with 2:32 to go, 26-24. A triple from Mekhi Lairy with 39 seconds remaining in the half sent Miami into the locker room trailing, 30-27.
• Kamari Williams drained a triple at the 16:27 mark in the second half to give Miami a 37-36 edge.
• Akron retaliated with a 10-0 run to take a 46-37 lead with 13:45 to go, and extended its lead to a game-high 15 by the 9:44 mark.
• A 7-2 surge capped by an Isaiah Coleman-Lands three-pointer helped close the gap to single digits with 4:05 to go, 60-53, but that is as close as the RedHawks would get.

NOTES:

• The RedHawks used a new line up for the third straight game. Coleman-Lands made his first start of the season, while Williams made his second straight start and third of the season.
• It was the closest halftime margin for the RedHawks since trailing 33-32 at Western Michigan on Jan. 15 before topping the Broncos 70-62.
• Lairy was the other RedHawk in double figures with 12 points.

UP NEXT:
It is a quick turnaround for both the RedHawks and Zips, who will meet for the second time in as many games on Sunday, Feb. 6 in Oxford. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS