By Anna Bella Ramirez

11/4/2024

BOONE, N.C. –  The Miami University men’s basketball team (1-0) secured its first win of the year in convincing fashion 77-63 at Appalachian State (0-1) Monday evening to open the 2024-25 season.

Newcomers Peter Suder (17) and Kam Craft (16) led all RedHawks in scoring to propel the team offensively.

How it Happened:

• Craft opened the scoring with a three-point jump shot to put the score at 3-0. Appalachian State looked to pull away at 9-5, but Evan Ipsaro had other intentions, knocking down a three to trail by one at 9-8. The Mountaineers went on to stretch their lead to 17-10. Suder responded with a traditional three-point play after getting fouled on a made layup.
• The Red and White continued to battle, eventually tying the game at 22 apiece after Eian Elmer knocked down a shot from beyond the arc. Mekhi Cooper banged a shot from downtown, and Ipsaro rolled in a layup to give Miami its first lead since the start of the game at 27-26. Craft ended the first half with a three to push the Red and White ahead 32-31 heading into halftime.
• At the start of the second half, Antwone Woolfolk put in a turnaround hook shot and followed this up with a layup to even things up at 36-36. A trio of threes from Cooper, Suder and Luke Skaljac extended the RedHawk lead to 51-44. Miami took its first double-digit lead at 59-49 thanks to the second three of the night from Suder. Craft found the net on two consecutive possessions with a corner and step-back jumper from deep to make the score 65-53.
• A putback layup from Woolkfolk with just under two minutes to play gave the RedHawks more breathing room as it stretched their lead to 69-60. Suder, Elmer and Ipsaro closed the game by burying numerous shots from the free-throw line to give Miami a 77-63 victory.

Game Notes:

• Miami shot 44% (11-25) from behind the arc.
• Miami outscored the Mountaineers 45-32 in the second half of play.
• The Red and White had 28 points in the paint, in comparison to 18 points from Appalachian State.
• Sophomore guard Cooper set a career-high with four steals (tied game-high).
• Skaljac (true freshman) led all Miami players with two blocks.
• With this victory, Miami ends the Mountaineers 15-game home win streak (last loss at home came on Feb. 18, 2023).

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS