12/2/2022

GAME NOTES

https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2022/12/2/2022-23_mbk_vs_Indiana_State.pdf

SATURDAY’S GAME: The RedHawks host Indiana State University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. This is Miami’s eighth game of the season and it will take place at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio. 

ABOUT INDIANA STATE: Head coach John Schertz enters his second season with the Sycamores after taking over the program in the spring of 2021. Coach Schertz is a four-time national coach of the year. He previously came from NCAA Division II Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Coach Schertz had a 13-year tenure with Lincoln Memorial where he held a record of 337-69. Guard Courvoisier McCauley (15.9) and guard Cameron Henry (11.1) lead Indiana State in scoring. 

THE SERIES WITH THE SYCAMORES: This Saturday will be the ninth all-time meeting between Miami and Indiana State. The last time each team faced each other was on Dec. 4, 2021. The RedHawks fell 68-69 in an away game at the Hulman Center. The Red and White are 2-0 at home, while their away record stands at 1-2. Indiana State has taken each Neutral site game, leading 3-0 all-time. 

UP NEXT: Miami hosts Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11. 

JACKSON STATE RECAP: For the second game in a row, Miami (3-4) led their opponent for the entirety of the game and captured a 95-78 victory over Jackson State (0-6). Morgan Safford led all players with a career-high 26 points, while Ryan Mabrey finished second in points for the RedHawks with 15 (career-high). Anderson Mirambeaux added 12 points, seven assists (career-high), and seven rebounds.

LOCKED IN AT THE LINE: Miami University currently ranks first in the nation in free throw shooting percentage. As a team, the RedHawks are shooting 83.5%. Mekhi Lairy leads the way, ranking 10th in the nation and first in the MAC. Anderson Mirambeaux finds himself ranked 45th nationally and third in the MAC. 

MEKHI LAIRY: Among the returners is fifth-year senior Mekhi Lairy, who set Miami’s single-season free-throw percentage record a year ago and currently holds the career free-throw percentage record. Lairy, who averaged 13.6 ppg in 2021-22, posted his 1,000th career point last season and is on pace to break Miami’s career games played record this season. Lairy now has 1,305 career points. He is in 17th place on the program’s all-time list after passing Jeff Gehring on Tuesday. Lairy also surpassed Ron Harper on the career assists list to take the 10th spot all-time. This season against Georgia, Lairy set a new career-high in points (34) and produced the first 30-point game for a RedHawk since Mar. 9, 2020 (Nike Sibande, 31).

STAND AND DELIVER: One of the most efficient free throw shooters in the conference, 5th year senior guard Mekhi Lairy ranked first in the MAC in free-throw percentage in the 2021-22 season. His .915 (2021-22) free throw percentage ranks first on Miami’s single-season list and his .859 career free-throw percentage also ranks first. Lairy hit 29 consecutive free throws from Nov. 27 through Jan. 29. He was perfect from the free-throw line in 18 of the 25 games where he attempted a free-throw shot. Mekhi has started the 2022-23 season 30-32 from the free throw line. He is currentl ranked number 10 nationally in free throw percentage. 

SHOWING OUT: Against Jackson State Miami recorded some notable statistics. For the First time since Nov. 23, 2021, six RedHawks put up double-figures in scoring. This included Morgan Safford (26), Ryan Mabrey (15), Billy Smith (14), Julian Lewis (13), Anderson Mirambeaux (12), and Mekhi Lairy (11). Overall, Miami shot 60% (33-55) from the field. The Red and White also shot 50% (14-28) from the three-point line. Each shooting percentage was the most for a RedHawk team since Nov. 13, 2021. 

NEW FACES, NEW PLACES: Two RedHawks had double-doubles in Miami’s first win versus Goshen College. Sophomore transfer Julian Lewis made his season debut, tying his career-high of 17 points and setting a new career-high of 10 rebounds. Freshman Billy Smith recorded 11 points, 12 rebounds, six steals, and four assists. This year the RedHawks boast five freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors, three seniors, and a fifth year senior. 

INCOMING TALENT:Julian Lewis is a guard from William & Mary where he averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. He recorded a career-high of 17 points versus Delaware and a career-high of eight assists against Valparaiso. As a freshman, Lewis was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. This season Lewis has averaged 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. 

Morgan Safford is a guard from Wofford College. During his tenure he averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. He recorded a career-high of 21 points versus Coastal Carolina as a redshirt freshman. During his first campaign, Safford was named to the 2020-2021 Southern Conference All-Freshman Team. He was named a captain at the beginning of the season for the RedHawks. Safford set a new career-high 26 points against Jackson State in his fourth game of the season. This season Safford has averaged 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. 

Anderson Mirambeaux is a center/forward from Cleveland State University. While attending he averaged 1.5 pts, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists with the Vikings. Prior to Cleveland State, Mirambeaux attended Trinity Valley Community College. At TVCC he averaged 13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He was named a captain at the beginning of the season for the RedHawks. In Anderson Mirambeaux’s first game with Miami, he set a career-high 27 points. In the game versus Jackson State, he also set a career-high in assists with seven. Up to this point, Mirambeaux is averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.

DEFENSE: In the second game against Goshen College Miami forced 27 turnovers. This is the most for a RedHawk opponent since Nov. 17, 2015 (Kenyon, 24 turnovers). Miami recorded 18 steals (second highest in program history), led by freshman Billy Smith with six total.

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