By Skip Coopersmith

2 17 2024

BOX SCORE

https://miamiredhawks.com/boxscore.aspx?path=mbball&id=19286

OXFORD, Ohio— Eian Elmer led four RedHawks in double figures with 18 points as the Miami University men’s basketball team raced past Ball State 80-59 Saturday in front of a crowd of 7,736 at Millett Hall.

Anderson Mirambeaux contributed 16 points, Bradley Dean chipped in 15 and Darweshi Hunter added 13 for the RedHawks (12-13, 6-6 MAC), who outscored Ball State by 20 points after intermission. Basheer Jihad and Davion Bailey each had 18 points for the Cardinals (12-13, 4-8 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Mirambeaux got things started offensively for Miami, driving down the lane for a layup and then knocking down a three-pointer on the next trip to give the RedHawks a 5-0 lead. Reece Potter put the Red and White up 14-10 later with a triple and a layup, and Elmer followed with a jumper for a six-point cushion at the midway point of the period.
• After the visitors briefly re-took the lead, Hunter buried a deep three to make it 23-21 in Miami’s favor with six minutes to play in the first half. Another shot from behind the arc by Potter and a Mekhi Cooper layup helped Miami take a slim 30-29 advantage to the locker room.
• The two teams remained close through the first five minutes of the second half, but Dean broke the game open with three-pointers on back-to-back possessions. The RedHawks took their first double-digit lead at 53-43 with 12:30 to play after Ryan Mabrey drove the lane and found Jaquel Morris for a two-handed jam.
• Miami continued to maintain a 10-point lead inside the seven-minute mark before capitalizing on a technical foul against BSU coach Michael Lewis to rip off a 10-2 run. Mirambeaux did much of the damage in the spurt, following a three-point play with an inside move to give Miami a 15-point cushion at 66-51. Hunter drained a corner triple on the ensuing possession to make it 69-51 with 4:45 to go. Elmer scored a pair of baskets for the RedHawks to help put the game out of reach as Miami took its first 20-point lead at the 1:44 mark. Dean capped the scoring with a three-pointer with 12 seconds to go as the Red and White sealed an 80-59 victory.

GAME NOTES:

• Dean’s 15 points was his season high.
• Cooper had a game-high five assists.
• Hunter pulled down a game-best eight boards.
• Miami shot 60.6% from the field (20-33) after halftime.
• 10 different RedHawks played at least 10 minutes in the contest.
• The RedHawks hit at least 10 three-pointers in a game for the seventh time this season.

WHAT’S NEXT:
The Red and White will travel to battle Western Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Kalamazoo, Mich.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS