By Marisol Nicholson

2 17 2024

MIAMI GAME NOTES

https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/2/16/2023-24_mbk_Ball_State2.pdf

BALL STATE GAME NOTES

https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/2/16/Ball_State_Game_Notes_at_Miami__OH_.pdf

THIS SATURDAY: The Miami University men’s basketball team will return home to face off with Ball State on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3:30 p.m.

RECENT PLAY: The Miami University men’s basketball team lost to Georgia State 73-53 last Saturday afternoon in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Darweshi Hunter led Miami with 19 points, while Reece Potter scored eight points and added seven rebounds.

THE SERIES WITH THE CARDINALS: Saturday will be the 111th all-time meeting between Miami and Ball State. The RedHawks lead the series 67-43. The two teams last faced off on Jan. 20, 2024, an 87-80 Miami victory in overtime at Worthen Arena. In this game, Darweshi Hunter hit a clutch three-pointer in the final second of regulation to force OT. Miami went on to outscore the Cardinals 15-8 from there to claim a seven-point victory.

ABOUT BALL STATE: The Ball State University men’s basketball team recorded a 20-12 (11-7 Mid-American Conference) record this past season. Head coach Michael Lewis was named the head coach on March 25, 2022. Prior to becoming the head coach, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA. This year, Ball State was projected to finish in eighth place in the 2023-24 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Cardinals currently hold a 12-12 (4-7 MAC) record. Ball State most recently dropped to Texas State 68-60 in San Marcos, Texas.

This year, Ball State is averaging 74.8 points per game on 45.7 percent shooting and have held their opponents to 70.9 points per game. The team also averages 12.5 assists and 34.8 rebounds in each game they play. Basheer Jihad leads the Cardinals’ offense in scoring (19.3). He also leads the team in rebounds (7.7) and block per game (1.0). Jalin Anderson currently averages a team-high 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

UP NEXT: The Miami University men’s basketball team will travel to battle Western Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m in Kalamazoo, Mich. The RedHawks previously dropped to the Broncos 83-74 at Millett Hall earlier this season.

MAC STANDINGS: Heading into this weekend, Miami is tied for sixth place in the Mid-American Conference standings. The RedHawks are even with Kent State and Western Michigan at 5-6 in conference play. With seven conference games left in the season, the Red and White are looking to finish in the top eight of the conference standings to secure a spot in the MAC tournament (March 14-16 in Cleveland, Ohio).

STRONG DEPTH: This season, the RedHawks rank first in the MAC and 25th in the country in bench points with an average of 28.58 per game, topped by Anderson Mirambeaux (12.5 ppg) and Ryan Mabrey (7.7 ppg). As Miami’s rotation has gotten healthier over the past few weeks, the RedHawks are getting contributions from up and down the lineup. Miami’s depth was on display in its most recent game, with 10 different players seeing at least a dozen minutes of playing time.

THREE-POINT BARRAGE: Miami is currently ranked 73rd in the country (third in the MAC) in three-point shooting percentage (36.1%). 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 (Ryan Mabrey and Darweshi Hunter).

FACILITATION: The Red and White currently rank first in the MAC and 80th in the nation in assists per game (15.0). Miami also ranks 101st nationally and second in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.27).

BULTMAN BOOST: Since the start of MAC play, Bryce Bultman is averaging 9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.6 steals. Bultman led Miami in rebounds against Central Michigan (seven), Eastern Michigan (eight), Akron (nine) and Toledo (11). He also recorded the most assists on the team versus Kent State (three), Northern Illinois (five), 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 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 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 24 games with Miami, graduate transfer Darweshi Hunter has totaled 301 points (team-high) and has knocked down 40.0% of his shots from the field. Hunter has recorded 51 three-point field goals (fourth in the MAC) on 35.7% shooting. His 2.0 threes per game is currently tied for sixth in the MAC. He also ranks seventh in the MAC in free throw percentage (81.8%). 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. Most recently, Hunter hit a clutch jump shot in the final seconds of regulation to seal a 70-68 victory over Akron. To learn more about Darweshi’s story, click here!

MORRIS MADNESS: Sophomore Jaquel Morris is currently a MAC leader in field goal percentage (70.3%). He is also tied at seventh in the MAC in blocks per game (1.1). This season, Morris finds himself with a total of 25 blocks (tied for ninth in the MAC). So far, Morris has averaged 6.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 0.8 assists 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 628 of 1,730 total points scored in 24 games played.

Mekhi Cooper is currently averaging 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists (team-high) and 1.0 steals. Cooper led Miami with three steals (career-high) in a victory over Akron earlier this year. 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 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 assists 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 7.0 points, 2.5 assists, 2.2 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 three steals versus Northern Illinois. He also added a career-high five rebounds against Ohio State.

Jackson Kotecki has totaled an average of 4.1 points, 1.3 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 has averaged 6.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.4 blocks and 0.3 steals this season. He scored a career-high 17 points versus Bowling Green. He also recorded three blocks (career-high) against Wilberforce.

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. 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.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS