Mon, Feb 15, 2021

TUESDAY’S GAME: The RedHawks hit the road for a pair of games this week, beginning with a 7 p.m. game at MAC-leader Toledo on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

ABOUT TOLEDO: The Rockets enter Tuesday’s game with a 16-6 overall record and a 11-3 Mid-American Conference mark to lead the conference. Toledo has dropped two straight and lost their first home game of the season in an 88-81 loss to Bowling Green on Saturday. Five Rockets average double figures in scoring, led by Jackson Marreon’s 17.2 ppg. Ryan Rollins (13.4), Spencer Littleson (13.1), Setric Millner, Jr. (12.7) and JT Shumate (12.6) follow, respectively. Millner leads the Rockets on the boards at 6.5 per game, while Jackson averages 5.7 assists per game. As a team, the Rockets lead the MAC in three-pointers (10.68) and three-point field-goal percentage (.376).

THE SERIES WITH THE ROCKETS: Tuesday marks the 132nd meeting between Miami and Toledo with MU owning a 68-63 edge in the series. The Rockets have won the last 14 meetings, including a 90-81 win in Oxford earlier this season on Jan. 26. When playing in Toledo, the Rockets hold a 39-22 lead against the RedHawks. Toledo has won the last seven meetings in Savage Arena, including a 65-57 win on Feb. 22, 2020 in the last meeting between the teams in Toledo. Miami’s last win in the series also was its last on the Rockets’ homecourt, a 68-66 win on Feb. 12, 2011.

TELEVISION: Tuesday’s game will be televised on ESPN3.

RADIO: In its second year of its partnership with Van Wagner, the Miami Sports Network, powered by Pepsi, continues its coverage of Miami Basketball with a group of affiliates blanketing most of Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana. The radio broadcast also will be carried via the TuneIn App. Steve Baker and Terry Bridge will call the action. 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)
TuneIn App

GRANT IS MR. EFFICIENT: Sophomore guard Dae Dae Grant is making a strong case to be considered one of the MAC’s most-efficient shooters. He leads the MAC in conference-only games in both 3-point field goal percentage (.536) and free-throw percentage (.931). Additionally, he ranks 20th among conference leaders in MAC games in field goal percentage (.459).

COLEMAN-LANDS RANKS 23RD NATIONALLY IN ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO: Redshirt junior guard Isaiah Coleman-Lands has been stingy with turnovers and currently boasts a 2.94 assist/turnover ratio with 47 assists to 16 turnovers through 15 games. He leads the MAC and ranks 23rd nationally in assist/turnover ratio. 

REDHAWKS RANK 11TH NATIONALLY FEWEST TURNOVERS: Averaging 10.31 turnovers per game, Miami ranks second the MAC in fewest turnovers and ranks 11th nationally. Miami has committed fewer turnovers than its opponent in 10 of its 16 games and the same number in two games this season. The RedHawks have had 10 or fewer turnovers in 10 of their 16 games, including a season-low four against Mount St. Joseph on Dec. 11.

BROWN REACHES 1,000 CAREER POINTS: Senior forward Dalonte Brown became the 37th member of Miami’s 1,000 Point Club on Jan. 12, 2021. Brown enters Miami’s next game with 1,103 career points and has moved up to 33rd on the list. 

MORE ON BROWN: Dalonte Brown played in his 100th career game on Tuesday, Dec. 15 against Buffalo. He made his 100th career start against Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 26. Entering Miami’s next game, Brown has played in 111 career games and made 104 career starts.

ROARING 20s: In Miami’s last two games, two RedHawks have had career-high scoring efforts both of 24 points. Junior forward James Beck came off the bench at Buffalo on Feb. 6 and poured in a career-high 24 points off 10-of-14 shooting from the floor, connecting on a sizzling 71.4 percent of his shots. He was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line and added eight rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot to his line in 25:41 of action. Junior guard Mekhi Lairy amassed a career-high 24 points against Akron on Feb. 12, tallying 12 points in each half. Lairy knocked down 8-of 14 field goals (.571) and was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. He added three assists, three rebounds and a steal to his stat line.

ODDS ‘N ENDS

• Over the last five games, junior guard Mekhi Lairy is averaging a team-leading 16.2 ppg and also has dished out 4.0 assists per game. Lairy has handed out three or more assists in 11 of Miami’s last 12 games.
• Redshirt junior forward James Beck has averaged 17.0 ppg and a team-high-tying 7.5 rpg in Miami’s last two outings. He shot 75.0 percent from the floor over the last two games, knocking down 15-of-20 field goals.
• Shooting 52.9 percent from the field against Akron on Feb. 12, Miami notched its seventh game this season shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field and its fifth in Mid-American Conference play. Miami shot a season-best 58.7 percent from the floor against Bowling Green on Jan. 21.
• Senior guard Milos Jovic joined the Century Club on Jan. 30 against Western Michigan, playing in his 100th career game. Entering the RedHawks’ next game, Jovic has played in 103 career games.
• The RedHawks have had balanced contributions from their starters and their bench. In its 11 MAC game, Miami is getting 32.5 percent of its scoring off the bench while averaging 73.5 ppg.
• After averaging 85.75 ppg in the previous four games, Miami found itself in a defensive battle against Western Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 30, capturing a 65-56 win against the Broncos. The RedHawks have averaged 68.3 points per game in their last four outings.
• Miami exceeded 80 points in four straight games from Jan. 19-26, scoring 81 against Ball State, 96 against Bowling Green, 85 at Western Michigan and 81 against Toledo. It was the first time since January 1990 that MU has strung together four-straight games scoring 80 or more points when Miami scored 87 at Ohio (Jan. 3, 1990), 83 against Central Michigan (Jan. 6, 1990), 96 at Bowling Green (Jan. 10, 1990) and 94 against Eastern Michigan (Jan. 13, 1990). 

UP NEXT: Miami continues its road stretch at Northern Illinois for a 6 p.m. (ET) game on Saturday, Feb. 20. 

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