By Bert Leeson

3 2 2024

GAME NOTES

https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/3/1/2023-24_mbk_EMU2.pdf

THIS SATURDAY: 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. Miami enters this weekend tied for sixth place in the Mid-American Conference standings. The RedHawks are even with Bowling Green at 8-7 in conference play. With three 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).

THE SERIES WITH THE EAGLES: Saturday will be the 84th all-time meeting between Miami and Eastern Michigan. The RedHawks lead the series 54-29. The RedHawks previously topped the Eagles 71-54 in Oxford, Ohio earlier this season. The Red and White are 21-17 when traveling to Eastern Michigan.

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 a 12-16 (5-10 MAC) record. Eastern Michigan most recently topped Western Michigan 70-67.

This year, Eastern Michigan is averaging 67.4 points per game on 43.5 percent shooting and have held their opponents to 74.1 points per game. The team also averages 10.5 assists and 34.4 rebounds in each game they play. Tyson Acuff leads the Eagles’ offense in scoring (21.7) and assists (2.8). Orlando Lovejoy has led Eastern Michigan on the defensive end, averaging a team-high 1.4 steals. Jalin Billingsley (5.0) and Julius Ellerbe (4.8) lead the team in rebounds per game. Yusuf Jihad and Arne Osojnik are each averaging a team-high 0.50 blocks per game.

UP NEXT: The Miami University men’s basketball team will return home to take on Toledo Tuesday, Mar. 5 at 7 p.m.

RECENT PLAY: Darweshi Hunter matched the game-high 20 points and led three RedHawks in double figures as the Miami University men’s basketball team defeated Bowling Green State University 66-58 Tuesday evening at the Stroh Center. Bradley Dean scored 15 points and Anderson Mirambeaux added 11 points for the RedHawks on the night. The RedHawks recorded nine or more blocks for the first time since facing off with Toledo on January 11, 2022.

STRONG DEPTH: This season, the RedHawks rank first in the MAC and 17th in the country in bench points with an average of 29.04 per game. As Miami’s rotation has gotten healthier over the past month, the RedHawks are getting contributions from up and down the lineup. In three of Miami’s last five 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 21st in the country (first in the MAC) in three-point shooting percentage (37.5%). The RedHawks have shot at least 50% from the three-point line in five 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. Miami has also shot over 50% from behind the three-point line in both of its last two games.

FACILITATION: The Red and White currently rank first in the MAC and 62nd in the nation in assists per game (15.1). Miami also ranks 91st nationally and second in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.30).

MARVELOUS MIRAMBEAUX: This preseason, Anderson Mirambeaux was named a Second Team All-MAC player. He is currently averaging 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 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 28 games with Miami, graduate transfer Darweshi Hunter has totaled 345 points (team-high) and has knocked down 40.1% of his shots from the field. Hunter has recorded 59 three-point field goals (tied for seventh in the MAC) on 36.6% shooting. His 2.1 threes per game is tied for sixth in the MAC. He also ranks sixth in the MAC in free throw percentage (82.7%). 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 (68.6%). He is also tied at sixth in the MAC in blocks per game (1.1). This season, Morris finds himself with a total of 30 blocks (tied for eighth in the MAC). So far, Morris has averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 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.

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 1.1 steals per game. He also leads the team with a 43.9 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 731 of 2,022 total points scored in 28 games played.

Mekhi Cooper is currently averaging 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists (tied for 13th in the MAC) and 1.0 steals (tied for 15th 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 at Marshall.

Eian Elmer has averaged 6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks (18th in the 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 at Buffalo (four) and the most blocks at Bowling Green (four). He also totaled a career-high 23 points against Eastern Michigan.

Evan Ipsaro has put up 7.0 points, 2.6 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 at Ohio State. He stands at seventh in the MAC in free throw percentage (81.8%).

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 6.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 blocks (tied for 19th in MAC) 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.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS