By Cord Rankin

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Miami University men’s basketball team battled Michigan Monday night, holding a lead late into the first half before falling by a final score of 94-67. Eian Elmer led three RedHawks (2-2) in double figures with 14 points, while Kam Craft added 13 and Peter Suder chipped in 12. Nimari Burnett had a game-high 18 points for the Wolverines (3-1).

How it Happened:

• On the RedHawks’ first offensive possession, Elmer knocked down a left corner three to give Miami a 3-0 lead. Elmer went on to record a steal that turned into a transition dunk to tie the score up at 5-5. Suder then poked the ball away to Elmer, who found Suder for a fast-break layup to make it 7-5. With 13:38 left in the first half, Suder knocked down a midrange jump shot to trail 12-9.
• The Red and White evened the score at 20 apiece after Reece Potter, Craft and Elmer put in three consecutive shots from behind the three-point line. Craft followed this up with a turnaround jumper to give the Red and White its first lead since the beginning of play (17:07 mark) at 22-20. Miami remained ahead at 30-27 thanks to a pair of threes from Evan Ipsaro. The home team took the lead for good with less than three minutes remaining in the period, but Elmer and Kraft each scored from beyond the arc down the stretch to keep the RedHawks within 44-36 at halftime.
• After a slow start, Suder got the RedHawk offense going in the second half with a traditional three-point play. Ipsaro proceeded to find Suder on the left elbow for Suder’s first three of the game to keep Miami in the fight at 59-43 with 13:50 to play. A pair of layups from Brant Byers and Craft’s third triple of the game kept the RedHawks within 20 at 70-50 with just under 10 minutes on the game clock.
• With 3:29 remaining, Dan Luers checked in for the first time this season and immediately buried a three-pointer. The RedHawks added a few late layups, but ultimately fell to the Wolverines 94-67.

Game Notes:

• Miami forced 18 Michigan turnovers and committed only 13.
• Elmer had a game-high three steals.
• Brant Byers pulled down a career-high five rebounds.

Up Next:
The RedHawks travel down to Florida for a Fort Myers Tip-Off matchup against Siena College on Monday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS