By Price Brothers

1 21 2025

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University men’s basketball team edged past Bowling Green 84-76 Tuesday night. Mekhi Cooper led the RedHawks (14-4, 6-0 MAC) in scoring with 14 points, while Kam Craft (13), Brant Byers (12), Peter Suder (11), Antwone Woolfolk (11) and Eian Elmer (10) scored in double figures. Derrick Butler and Trey Thomas each led the Falcons (7-11, 2-4 MAC) with 17 points. With this win, the RedHawks have now won eight straight games for the first time since the 1996-97 season.

How it Happened:

• Bowling Green began the game with a 7-2 advantage over the Red and White. The RedHawks responded by knocking down a pair of threes, and Reece Potter added a dunk to take their first game lead at 12-11. Potter went on to find Byers cutting to the basket for a dunk that led to a traditional three-point play to keep the Red and White ahead 19-16.
• The Falcons looked to pull away at 23-19 before Craft laced a triple and Woolfolk put in a layup. The score was knotted at 26 apiece when Craft made a floater and added a free throw after getting fouled. Byers scored the next seven points for Miami to hold on to a three-point lead at 36-33. The Red and White entered halftime trailing 40-39.
• The Falcons opened the second half of play by stretching their lead to 47-41. Miami answered with a run of its own, as Craft helped Miami even the score at 49-49 after scoring a turnaround jumper. Potter scored a left-handed hook shot and added a shot from the top of the three-point line to give Miami its first lead of the second half at 56-54. After stealing the ball from a Bowling Green player, Evan Ipsaro threw a long pass down the court to Cooper for a two-handed jam that brought the crowd to its feet at 60-56. Miami looked to close out the game, finishing off a 13-0 run to make it a 69-56 ballgame.
• Bowling Green began to full-court press the RedHawks with just under five minutes to play, where Cooper then threaded the ball down the court for another Byers dunk. The RedHawks held onto a seven-point lead at 75-68 with 3:49 to go. The Falcons came within one at 75-74, but a jumper from Cooper and a layup from Suder kept the RedHawks ahead 79-76. Suder sealed the game with a pull-up jump shot from beyond the arc to give Miami an 82-76 lead with 35 seconds remaining. Ipsaro ended the game by making some free throws to edge past the Falcons 84-76.

Game Notes:

• This is the third time this season at least six RedHawks have scored in double figures.
• Miami is 6-0 to start conference play for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
• Miami out-rebounded Bowling Green 33 to 24.
• Eian Elmer led all players with four steals (tied for the most in his career).
• The Red and White shot better than 50% from the field for the 10th time this season.
• The RedHawks recorded 36 points in the paint.

Up Next:
The RedHawks continue conference play by heading northeast to face off with Akron Saturday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS