By Marisol Nicholson
1/12/2024
MIAMI GAME NOTES
https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/1/12/2023-24_mbk_EMU.pdf
EASTERN MICHIGAN GAME NOTES
https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/1/12/16_EMU_Notes_vs._Miami_pg_1-44.pdf
THIS SATURDAY: The RedHawks host Eastern Michigan in conference play Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. The game will take place at Millett Hall and can be watched on ESPN+.
THE SERIES WITH THE EAGLES: Saturday will be the 83rd all-time meeting between Miami and Eastern Michigan. The RedHawks lead the series 53-29. The two teams last faced off on Jan. 28, 2023, a 74-69 Eastern Michigan victory at Millett Hall.
ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN: The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team recorded an 8-23 (5-13 Mid-American Conference) record this past season. Head coach Stan Heath enters his third season with the Eagles after taking over the reins on April 12, 2021. Prior to joining the Eagles, he spent four seasons as the head coach of the Lakeland Magic (NBA G League). Coach Heath has also served as a head coach for Kent State, Arkansas and South Florida. This year, Eastern Michigan was selected to finish 11th in the 2023-24 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Eagles currently hold an 8-7 (1-2 MAC) record. Eastern Michigan most recently dropped 80-64 to Central Michigan.
This year, Eastern Michigan is averaging 68.8 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting and have held their opponents to 74.5 points per game. The team also averages 11.1 assists and 33.7 rebounds in each game they play. Tyson Acuff leads the Eagles’ offense in scoring (22.0) and assists (3.0). Acuff has led Eastern Michigan on the defensive end as well, averaging a team-high 1.35 steals. Julius Ellerbe leads the team in rebounds per game (4.9). Jihad Yusuf leads all players with an average of 0.60 blocks per game.
UP NEXT: The RedHawks continue conference play at home against Bowling Green Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.
RECENT PLAY: Anderson Mirambeaux poured in a season-high 21 points off the bench and four assists as the Miami University men’s basketball team led nearly the entire game in an 86-65 win over Buffalo Tuesday night. Bryce Bultman added 14 points for the RedHawks (7-8, 1-2 MAC), while Ryan Mabrey (12) and Eian Elmer (10) scored in double figures. Miami shot over 60% from the field for the second time this season.
THREE-POINT BARRAGE: Miami is currently ranked 26th in the country (first in the MAC) in three-point shooting percentage (38.0%). The RedHawks have shot at least 50% from the three-point line in three games this year. Against Ohio State, the RedHawks knocked down 58.3% of their shots from beyond the arc (7-of-12). The Red and White hit a season-high 13 triples in a win at Marshall (13-of-26, 50%). Miami has three players in the top 25 of three-point shooting percentage in the MAC.
STRONG DEPTH: This season the RedHawks rank first in the MAC and 20th in the country in bench points with an average of 30.60 per game.
FACILITATION: The Red and White currently rank first in the MAC and 59th in the nation in assists per game (15.9). Miami also ranks 86th nationally and second in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.32)
SHOWING OUT: The Miami University men’s basketball team recently rolled past Wilberforce 119-69 in non-conference action. Evan Ipsaro led Miami with 17 points, while six other RedHawks scored in double figures (first time since Nov. 29, 2022). Miami matched the second-most points scored in program history. This is the first time Miami has scored over 100 points since Nov. 13, 2021 against Lamar University (104-75). The last time Miami scored 119 points was against Wilberforce on Dec. 30, 2019. The RedHawks shot over 60% from the field for the first time since facing Ohio on Feb. 25, 2023. The Red and White also put up over 50 rebounds for the first time since taking on Defiance on Nov. 23, 2021.
HUNTER GAMES: In his first 15 games with Miami, graduate transfer Darweshi Hunter has totaled 191 points (team-high) and has knocked down 41.2% of his shots from the field. Hunter has recorded 33 three-point field goals (tied for third in the MAC) on 38.8% shooting. His 2.20 threes per game is currently tied for third in the MAC. This season, Hunter hit a dramatic 30-foot buzzer beater to lift Miami past Vermont. He recorded 17 points (tied game-high), one rebound and one assist versus the Catamounts.
MORRIS MADNESS: Sophomore Jaquel Morris is currently leading the MAC in field goal percentage (71.0%). He is also stands at ninth in the MAC in blocks per game (1.12). This season, Morris finds himself with a total of 16 blocks (ninth in the MAC). So far, Morris has averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.5 steals. Last season, Morris recorded an average of 1.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 0.8 assists and 0.3 steals a game. Morris recorded the first double-double of his career against Ohio State with 11 points and 10 rebounds earlier this year.
FRESHMEN IMPACT: Miami’s 2023-24 roster is one of the youngest Division I teams in the country. The RedHawks have an average age of 20.07 across the entire team.
This season, Miami’s freshmen have totaled 401 of 1,122 total points scored in the first 15 games played.
Mekhi Cooper is currently averaging 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals and leads the RedHawks in assists (2.8). Cooper led Miami with two steals (career-high) in the first game of the season against Evansville. Against Wilberforce, he notched a career-high in rebounds (10) and assists (eight). He also led Miami with a career-high 17 points against Marshall.
Eian Elmer has averaged 4.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.6 steals, 0.3 assists and 0.2 block this year for Miami. On the season, Elmer led the RedHawks in rebounding against Evansville, St. Bonaventure, Spalding and Western Michigan. He also led the team in blocks versus Evansville. Against Wilberforce, he put up a career-high 12 points. Most recently, Elmer recorded the most steals of his career against Buffalo (four).
Evan Ipsaro has put up 8.5 points, 2.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game. He scored the most points for Miami against Eastern Illinois with a career-high 18. Ipsaro led the team with seven assists (career-high) against Western Michigan. He recorded a career-high two steals versus Evansville and Marshall. He also added a career-high five rebounds against Ohio State. He stands at 10th in the MAC in free throw percentage (82.9%).
Jackson Kotecki has totaled an average of 4.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.3 blocks, 0.3 assists and 0.2 steals. Kotecki led the RedHawks with a career-high in points (19) and blocks (2) versus Spalding.
Reece Potter returned to action against Ohio State, recording six points for Miami. This was his first appearance since the season opener against Evansville. He recently totaled a career-high in points (12) versus Toledo. He also recorded three blocks (career-high) against Wilberforce. Potter has averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.3 blocks and 0.2 steals this season.
THE BRADLEY DEAN STORY: Bradley Dean sat down with MiamiRedHawks.com to discuss what drew him to join Miami Men’s Basketball when the D2CCA All-American and SAC Player of the Year entered the transfer portal this offseason looking for a Division I opportunity on the hardwood. He has made his impact felt early on, as he currently tied for 10th place in the MAC with 1.3 steals per game. Check out the feature story here!
FRESH ON THE SCENE: Bryce Bultman is a guard from McKendree University where he averaged 15.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists. In his final year with McKendree, Bultman earned Unanimous First Team All-GLVC, NABC All District All-Midwest District First Team and D2CAA First Team All-Region.
Bradley Dean is a guard from the University of Virginia College at Wise. During his tenure he averaged 14.8 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds. In his last campaign with the team, Dean was named a member of the D2CCA All-Southeast Region First Team, he was a D2CCA All-American Honorable Mention and earned NABC Second Team Southeast All-District. He also was named the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Player of the Year and made First Team All-SAC.
Darweshi Hunter is a guard from Northern Illinois University. While attending he averaged 6.4 pts, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists with the Huskies. Prior to Northern Illinois, Hunter attended both Weber State and Central State (division II). While attending Central State, Hunter was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Associations (D2CCA), All-South Region First Team and All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) First Team. He also earned SIAC Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
MIAMI CLASSIC: The RedHawks built some early momentum with an undefeated home weekend in the Miami Classic this November. Bryce Bultman (MVP), Evan Ipsaro and Darweshi Hunter were named to the All-Tournament team after averaging double figures as Miami posted wins over Coppin State (76-48) and Eastern Illinois (76-64).
MAC PRESEASON POLL & TEAMS: The Mid-American Conference released its annual men’s basketball preseason poll. The Miami University RedHawks were selected to finish in a tie with Bowling Green at sixth place across all MAC schools. Senior Anderson Mirambeaux was selected to Second Team All-MAC.Mirambeaux is coming off the 2022-23 season where he earned Honorable Mention All-MAC after ranking 18th in the conference with a 14.2 scoring average. He was 10th in rebounds (5.7), 20th in assists (2.6), sixth in field goal percentage (54.2%), 16th in free throw percentage (76.4%) and seventh in blocks (0.9). He scored in double figures 24 times and recorded two double-doubles this season. Mirambeaux also had a career-high 27 points against Evansville in his first game for Miami.
COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
