By Price Brothers
3 7 2025
MIAMI GAME NOTES
https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2025/3/6/2024-25_MIAMI_Ball_State_2.pdf
BALL STATE GAME NOTES
https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2025/3/6/Ball_State_Game_Notes_at_Miami.pdf
FRIDAY: Miami wraps up the regular season hosting Ball State on Friday, March 7 at 6 p.m. on ESPNU. Entering this game, the RedHawks rank fifth nationally in three-point percentage (.395), eighth in effective field goal percentage (.573), 17th in threes per game (10.4), 17th in field goal percentage (.487), 31st in scoring offense (81.1), 32nd in turnovers forced per game (14.63) and 49th in turnover margin (2.3). Miami also leads the MAC in six statistical categories, including steals per game (8.4).
ABOUT BALL STATE: Ball State is coming off a 15-16 (7-11 MAC) season in 2023-24. Head coach Michael Lewis is in his third season with the Cardinals. Heading into the 2024-25 season, the MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll picked the Cardinals to finish seventh in the conference. Payton Sparks was named First Team All-MAC during the preseason.
Ball State is currently 14-16 (7-10 MAC), having dropped its last three games. The Cardinals have three players who average double figures in scoring, which includes Jermahri Hill (15.7), Payton Sparks (12.8) and Mickey Pearson Jr. (12.5). Hill and Juanse Gorosito are tied for the lead in steals per contest (0.9). Hill leads the team in assists (3.2) as well. Sparks has also recorded the most rebounds per game (7.6) and blocks per game (0.6).
THE SERIES WITH THE CARDINALS: Friday will mark the 113th time Miami and Ball State have faced off. The RedHawks head into this game leading the series 69-43. Miami leads the series in Oxford 39-12. The last time the Red and White took on the Cardinals, Miami secured an 80-72 victory on Jan. 7, 2025 in Muncie.
TELEVISION: This game has been selected for a national telecast on ESPNU.
RADIO: In its sixth year of its partnership with Van Wagner, the Miami Sports Network continues its coverage of Miami men’s basketball with a group of affiliates blanketing most of Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana. Tune in to one of Miami’s gameday affiliates:
WFMG-FM 101.3 (Richmond, Ind.)
WMOH-AM 1450 (Hamilton, Ohio)
WONE-AM 980 (Dayton, Ohio)
UP NEXT: The RedHawks head to the MAC Tournament beginning Thursday, March 13 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
RECENT ACTION: The Miami University men’s basketball team rolled past Buffalo 84-69 Tuesday night at Alumni Arena. Peter Suder led Miami with 15 points, while four other RedHawks scored in double digits. With this victory, the Red and White have clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament. Miami secured a top-two seed for the first time since Antwone Woolfolk recorded a career-high four steals. Miami shot over 50% from the field for the 13th time this season. The RedHawks made at least 50% of their shots from behind the three-point line for the sixth time this season. The Red and White dished out 24 assists (fourth highest total in a game this season). Miami’s bench outscored Buffalo’s bench 36 to 18.
SEASON SUCCESS: Miami has reached 22 wins in a season for the first time since 1998-99 and has also secured the program’s most MAC wins since 2005-06. The RedHawks need just 16 points to set the program record for most team points scored in a single season. Last home game, the Red and White set a new record for the most consecutive home wins (14) in a single season. With a victory on Friday, the RedHawks can tie the program record for the most regular-season wins in program history (23).
MID-MAJOR TOP 25 COACHES POLL: The Miami University men’s basketball team was selected to the Mid-Major Top 25® Poll for the eighth consecutive week on Monday. The RedHawks are No. 23 in the most recent rankings. Now in its 26th season, the Mid-Major Top 25® is voted on by 31 Division I coaches.
COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS
