By Stretch Jenkinson

1/23/2024

MBK VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES

https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/1/22/2023-24_mbk_CMU.pdf

THIS TUESDAY: The RedHawks travel North to take on Central Michigan Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. The game will take place at McGuirk Arena and can be watched on ESPN+.

THE SERIES WITH THE CHIPPEWAS: Tuesday will be the 82nd all-time meeting between Miami and Central Michigan. The RedHawks lead the series 56-25. The two teams last faced off on Feb. 11, 2023, a 66-60 Central Michigan victory at Millett Hall.

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN: The Central Michigan University men’s basketball team recorded a 10-21 (5-13 Mid-American Conference) record this past season. Head coach Tony Barbee enters his third season with the Chippewas after taking over the program on April 23, 2021. Coach Barbee previously spent seven seasons with the University of Kentucky. This year, Central Michigan was projected to finish in 12th place in the 2023-24 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Chippewas are currently 9-9 (4-2 MAC). Central Michigan most recently defeated Toledo 65-62 at McGuirk Arena.

This year, Central Michigan is averaging 74.0 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting and have held their opponents to 69.6 points per game. The team also averages 11.7 assists and 34.3 rebounds in each game they play. Anthony Pritchard leads the Chippewas’ offense in scoring (13.8). He also leads the team in assists (4.6) and steals per game (1.7). Brian Taylor currently averages a team best 7.6 rebounds per game. Taylor and Aidan Rubio hold the team-high in blocks per game (1.0).

TELEVISION: Tuesday’s game will be available to watch on ESPN+.

RADIO: In its fifth year of its partnership with Van Wagner, the Miami Sports Network continues its coverage of Miami men’s basketball with a group of affiliates blanketing most of Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana. Tune in to one of Miami’s gameday affiliates:

WFMG-FM 101.3 (Richmond, Ind.)

WMOH-AM 1450 (Hamilton, Ohio)

WONE-AM 980 (Dayton, Ohio)

UP NEXT: The RedHawks return home to take on Akron Saturday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m.

RECENT PLAY: The Miami University men’s basketball team edged past Ball State 87-80 in an overtime win Saturday afternoon. Anderson Mirambeaux led five RedHawks who scored in double figures with 16 points, while Darweshi Hunter and Ryan Mabrey each added 15. Hunter’s clutch three-pointer in the final second of regulation forced overtime, and Miami outscored the hosts 15-8 from there to claim a seven-point victory.

THREE-POINT BARRAGE: Miami is currently ranked 25th in the country (first in the MAC) in three-point shooting percentage (37.9%). 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 two players in the top 25 of three-point shooting percentage in the MAC. The RedHawks also rank 29th in the country in three-point percentage defense (29.7%).

STRONG DEPTH: This season the RedHawks rank first in the MAC and 20th in the country in bench points with an average of 30.00 per game.

FACILITATION: The Red and White currently rank first in the MAC and 47th in the nation in assists per game (15.9). Miami also ranks 95th nationally and second in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.30)

BULTMAN BOOST: Since the start of MAC play, Bryce Bultman is averaging 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 0.8 steals. Bultman led Miami in rebounds against Eastern Michigan (eight) and Toledo (11). He also recorded the most assists on the team versus Toledo (six) and Buffalo (six). He led the Red and White with two steals against Bowling Green.

MARVELOUS MIRAMBEAUX: This preseason, Anderson Mirambeaux was named a Second Team All-MAC player. He is currently averaging 13.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 blocks and 0.1 steals. 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 last season. Mirambeaux also had a career-high 27 points against Evansville in the first game he ever played for Miami.

HUNTER GAMES: In his first 18 games with Miami, graduate transfer Darweshi Hunter has totaled 224 points (team-high) and has knocked down 41.1% of his shots from the field. Hunter has recorded 37 three-point field goals (fourth in the MAC) on 37.0% shooting. His 2.0 threes per game is currently ranked at sixth 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 a MAC leader in field goal percentage (71.4%). He is also tied at seventh in the MAC in blocks per game (1.1). This season, Morris finds himself with a total of 19 blocks (ninth in the MAC). So far, Morris has averaged 6.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.4 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 488 of 1,353 total points scored in the first 18 games played.

Mekhi Cooper is currently averaging 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals and has the most assists on the team (3.0). 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 5.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 0.4 assists and 0.4 blocks this year for Miami. On the season, Elmer has led the RedHawks in rebounding on numerous occasions. Most recently, he put up a career-high 10 rebounds at Ball State. Elmer recorded the most steals of his career against Buffalo (four). He also totaled a career-high 23 points against Eastern Michigan.

Evan Ipsaro has put up 7.9 points, 2.2 assists, 2.4 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 ninth 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 (two) versus Spalding.

Reece Potter returned to action against Ohio State, totaling six points for Miami. This was his first appearance since the season opener against Evansville. He scored a career-high 17 points versus Bowling Green. He also recorded three blocks (career-high) against Wilberforce. Potter has averaged 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.3 blocks and 0.3 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 sixth place in the MAC with 1.3 steals per game. Check out the feature story here!

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.

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.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS