By Staff
Averaging only five 3-pointers per game, Miami University exploded for 12 from behind the arc in claiming an 80-70 Mid-American Conference men's basketball win over Central Michigan University Wednesday night.
It was close most of the way until the RedHawks pulled away in the second half before a crowd of 2,712 in Rose Arena.
The win upped Miami's record to 8-6 for the season and 4-2 in MAC action while the Chippewas fell to 3-13 and 0-6 in loop play. The loss was the sixth straight for CMU.
Trailing by a 39-36 margin at the half, the Chippewas moved into a four-point lead at 46-42 with 16:03 remaining and still led by one at 48-47 with 13:21 left. Miami went on a 7-0 run to claim the lead for good, 52-51, with 11:35 to go.
Miami entered the game shooting just 26 percent from 3-point land (66-of-245) but meshed 12-of-21 for 56 percent. Two reserves led the way in Monty St. Clair (4-for-5) and William Hatcher (3-for-4). St. Clair entered the game 0-for-7 from behind the arc for the season.
The RedHawks finished the game at 52.9 percent from the floor on 27-of-51 compared to CMU's 25-of-52 for 48.1 percent. The Chippewas hit just seven-of-23 3-point tries for 30.4 percent.
CMU had four players in double digits, led by 6-8 senior Gerrit Brigitha with 17 and 6-5 freshman David Hoskins with a career-high-matching 16 points. Tony Bowne added 13 and Brandon Voorhees 10.
Game-high laurels went to Juby Johnson of Miami with 19 points. St. Clair chipped in with 14, Chet Mason 13 and Hatcher 12.
CMU did hold a 31-28 edge in rebounds thanks to eight by Voorhees and seven for Brigitha. Mason and Johnson had seven each for MU.
The Chippewas are on the road for the next three games, playing first at Akron this Saturday at noon.
Miami………………….80
Central Michigan….70
Miami: Gene Seals 3 0-0 7, Tim Schenke 0 0-0 0, Josh Hausfeld 2 0-0 6, Chet Mason 5 3-6 13, Juby Johnson 5 7-8 19, Nate VanderSluis 0 0-0 0, William Hatcher 4 1-2 12, Monty St. Clair 5 0-0 14, Nathan Peavy 0 0-0 0, Danny Horace 3 3-5 9, Eric VanBuskirk 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 14-21 80
CMU: Brandon Voorhees 3 3-5 10, David Hoskins 6 1-1 16, Gerrit Brigitha 6 5-8 17, Tony Bowne 5 0-0 13, T.J. Meerman 2 2-2 6, Sefton Barrett 2 2-2 6, Robert Sevalia 1 0-0 2, Kevin Nelson 0 0-0 0, Joe Carr 0 0-0 0, Adam Dentlinger 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 13-18 70
Halftime score: Miami 39, CMU 36
3-point shooting: Miami 12 (St. Clair 4, Hatcher 3, Hausfeld 2, Johnson 2, Seals), CMU 7 (Bowne 3, Hoskins 3, Voorhees). Team fouls (fouled out): Miami 18 (none), CMU 16 (none). Team records: Miami 8-6 (4-2 MAC), CMU 3-13 (0-6)