OXFORD, Ohio—Mekhi Lairy scored 18 points to lead four RedHawks in double figures, but the Miami University men’s basketball team was edged by Central Michigan 66-60 Saturday afternoon. Anderson Mirambeaux scored 14 points and Morgan Safford chipped in 12 before fouling out. Ryan Mabrey added 11 points for the RedHawks (8-17, 2-10 MAC). Brian Taylor led the Chippewas (9-16, 4-8 MAC) with 22 points.


HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Central Michigan took an early 8-5 lead, Miami scored the next seven points of the contest to go on top. Lairy made a three-pointer from the left wing, Mirambeaux scored on an impressive spin move, and Kamari Williams capped the run with an offensive board and putback to make it 12-8. Minutes later, Bryson Tatum converted a mid-range floater to spark another 7-0 burst for the RedHawks en route to a 19-12 lead at under-eight minute media timeout.
• Miami enjoyed its biggest cushion of the period at 25-17 after successfully breaking CMU’s press for an open triple from Mabrey. Mirambeaux closed the first-half scoring with a lay-in on a baseline feed from Lairy to give the home team a 30-25 edge at intermission.
• Mirambeaux picked up where he left off in the second half, scoring on the first trip and dishing out a pair of key assists for three-pointers to help Miami take its first double-digit lead at 40-30. The margin peaked at 46-32 on a Mabrey drive with 14 minutes to play. 
• The Chippewas rallied back to re-take the lead with three minutes remaining and went ahead for good with 34.2 seconds left. CMU did much of its damage at the foul line, attempting 26 free throws in the final half and making 19. Lairy got a look at a go-ahead three-pointer with 20 seconds to play, but it wouldn’t drop.

NOTES

• Mabrey matched his career high with five rebounds.
• Lairy moved into a tie for third place on the program’s all-time assist list, matching Jamie Mercurio’s 413.
• Mirambeaux had a game-high two blocked shots.
• Both teams finished 20-47 from the floor, but CMU made 22-35 free throws and Miami was 14-20.
• Jackson Kenyon set a career high for minutes played (4:07) for the second consecutive game.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks return to action Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Toledo. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS