By Stretch Jenkinson
2 27 2024
MIAMI GAME NOTES
https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/2/26/2023-24_mbk_BGSU2.pdf
BGSU GAME NOTES
https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/2/26/2023-24_MBB_Game_Notes_Miami2.pdf
THIS TUESDAY: The Miami University RedHawks travel to face off with Bowling Green Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. Miami enters this week tied for sixth place in the Mid-American Conference standings. The RedHawks are even with Western Michigan at 7-7 in conference play (the Broncos own the tiebreaker). With four 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).
RECENT PLAY: Bradley Dean scored a season-high 20 points and led five RedHawks in double figures as the Miami University men’s basketball team defeated Central Michigan (who had won eight of their last nine games) 88-60 Saturday afternoon. Reece Potter and Evan Ipsaro added 15 points apiece for the RedHawks while Anderson Mirambeaux scored 12 and Mekhi Cooper chipped in 10.
THE SERIES WITH THE FALCONS: Tuesday will be the 152nd all-time meeting between Miami and Bowling Green. The RedHawks lead the series 90-61. The two teams last faced off on Jan. 16, 2024, a 78-73 Bowling Green victory at Millett Hall. The Red and White are 33-40 when traveling to Bowling Green.
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN: The Bowling Green State University men’s basketball team recorded an 11-20 (5-13 Mid-American Conference) record this past season. Head coach Todd Simon enters his first season with the Falcons after taking over the reins in March. Prior to joining the Falcons, he spent seven seasons as the head coach of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Coach Simon also served as the interim head coach for UNLV in 2016. This year, both Miami and Bowling Green were selected to finish in sixth place in the 2023-24 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Falcons currently hold a 17-10 (8-6 MAC) record. Bowling Green most recently defeated Toledo 76-68 at the Stroh Center.
This year, Bowling Green is averaging 75.2 points per game on 43.6 percent shooting and have held their opponents to 71.9 points per game. The team also averages 11.4 assists and 38.3 rebounds in each game they play. Marcus Hill leads the Falcons’ offense in scoring (21.6). Trey Thomas currently averages a team-high 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Rashaun Agee leads the team in rebounds per game (9.5). Jason Spurgin leads all players with an average of 1.1 blocks per game.
UP NEXT: The Miami University men’s basketball team will stay on the road and face off with Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Mar. 2 at 1 p.m. The RedHawks previously topped the Eagles 71-54 in Oxford, Ohio earlier this season.
STRONG DEPTH: This season, the RedHawks rank first in the MAC and 16th in the country in bench points with an average of 29.19 per game. As Miami’s rotation has gotten healthier over the past few weeks, the RedHawks are getting contributions from up and down the lineup. In three of Miami’s last four games, 10 different players saw at least 10 minutes of playing time. All 10 of those players have started multiple games this season.
THREE-POINT BARRAGE: Miami is currently ranked 29th in the country (second in the MAC) in three-point shooting percentage (37.1%). The RedHawks have shot at least 50% from the three-point line in four 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 15 triples in a win versus Central Michigan (15-of-26, 57.7%). Miami has two players in the top 25 of three-point shooting percentage in the MAC (Ryan Mabrey and Darweshi Hunter). The RedHawks most recently hit at least 10 three-pointers in a game for the eighth time this season against the Chippewas.
FACILITATION: The Red and White currently rank first in the MAC and 71st in the nation in assists per game (15.1). Miami also ranks 95th nationally and second in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.29).
MARVELOUS MIRAMBEAUX: This preseason, Anderson Mirambeaux was named a Second Team All-MAC player. He is currently averaging 13.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 blocks and 0.3 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 27 games with Miami, graduate transfer Darweshi Hunter has totaled 325 points (team-high) and has knocked down 39.9% of his shots from the field. Hunter has recorded 56 three-point field goals (seventh in the MAC) on 35.7% shooting. His 2.1 threes per game is tied for sixth in the MAC. He also ranks seventh in the MAC in free throw percentage (82.1%). 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. Against Ball State, Hunter hit a clutch three-pointer in the final second of regulation to force overtime. Miami went on to outscore the Cardinals 15-8 from there to claim a seven-point victory. 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 (69%). He is also tied at sixth in the MAC in blocks per game (1.2). This season, Morris finds himself with a total of 30 blocks (tied for seventh in the MAC). So far, Morris has averaged 5.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 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.
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. Dean is currently leading the Red and White with 1.2 steals per game. He also leads the team with a 44.3 three-point shooting percentage (minimum of 50 shot attempts or more). Check out the feature story here! To catch up on his most recent action, click here!
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 720 of 1,956 total points scored in 27 games played.
Mekhi Cooper is currently averaging 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists (team-high and tied for 11th in the MAC) and 1.0 steals (tied for 16th in MAC). 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. He sits at 11th in the MAC in free throw percentage (77.9%).
Eian Elmer has averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks (tied for 23rd in MAC) and 0.5 assists this year for Miami. On the season, Elmer has led the RedHawks in rebounding on numerous occasions. 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, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 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. He stands at sixth in the MAC in free throw percentage (82.3%).
Jackson Kotecki has totaled an average of 3.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.2 blocks, 0.2 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 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.4 blocks (tied for 23rd in MAC) and 0.4 steals this season. He scored a career-high 17 points versus Bowling Green. He also recorded three blocks (career-high) against Wilberforce.
COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
