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Suder's career night sends MU over Falcons Junior hits 17-of-21 while scoring 42 points By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Less than a week after earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Fort Meyers Tip-In Tournament (Palms Division), RedHawks junior Peter Suder put his game on display for the home crowd Monday night. They no doubt liked what they saw -- a lot -- as the junior erupted for 42 points to lead Miami (5-2) past Air Force (2-7) at Millett Hall. His total was a career high and the most by a Miami player since Wally Szczerbiak scored 43 points in 1999. Suder, who also . . . Miami defeats BGSU; punches title game ticket Defense, chunk plays pave way to critical win  BOWLING GREEN , OH -- Brett Gabbert missed the 2023 MAC Championship game due to a season-ending injury. Thanks to a 28-12 RedHawks win over Bowling Green Saturday at Doyt L. Perry Stadium, Gabbert will be back -- sans crutches -- this time.
With Ohio's win over Ball State Friday, the Bobcats also punched their ticket to Detroit. Miami defeated the Bobcats earlier this year, 30-20 in Oxford. Gabbert, a senior, was intercepted twice in MU's first three possessions Friday. but he battled through the miscues, eventually throwing three TDs to . . . 'Game of the Year' looms Friday at Bowling Green RedHawks face multiple big threats in Falcons MIAMI at BOWLING GREEN - Noon -- ESPNU Doyt L. Perry Stadium -- Bowling Green, OH  By MIKE SMITH While much of American turns its attention to shopping Friday, the Miami RedHawks and Bowling Green Falcons will be laser-focused on a noon battle at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. Both teams own 6-1 MAC records. So does Ohio, who has won four straight and is a solid favorite over Ball State in the MAC's other Friday matchup. If the Bobcats do prevail against BSU, they will head to Detroit in search of their first MAC championship since 1968. Joining them for a title joust at Ford Field will be the winner of Bowling Green vs Miami. The RedHawks won it all in 2023 and were a MAC coaches preseason poll pick (119 points) to repeat -- something that has been very difficult for any team to pull off in recent years. Toledo (109 points) was next in the same poll and a fairly popular pick for the title in several other polls. There was a tie for third in the coaches poll, with Bowling Green and Northern Illinois pulling in 92 points. Ohio was fifth with 81 points. Both MU and BGSU bring significant win streaks into Friday's matchup. The RedHawks have won six straight since losing to Toledo (30-20) during a brutal early schedule. With their backs against the wall, head coach Chuck Martin subsequently began referring to each week's matchup as a "tournament" game - win or fall by the wayside. Bowling Green, meanwhile, has won five straight since losing to Northern Illinois (17-7) back on Oct. 12. While MU defeated the Huskies, it lost to Toledo. The Falcons knocked off UT Oct. 26 at the Glass Bowl. Miami defeated Bowling Green 27-0 in Oxford last year, but the Falcons won five of their next regular season games. The only loss was by one point (33-32) against Toledo. BGSU's third MAC loss of 2023 was to Ohio, but those two teams did not meet in regular season play this year. If they both win Friday, Bowing Green would have a chance to finish avenging all three of its 2023 MAC losses. BOWLING GREEN (7-5, 5-3 MAC) >> Not only did the Falcons show considerable progress in 2023, they were impressive in several non-conference losses earlier this year. They lost to No. 8 Penn State 34-27 in Week 2 and were edged by No. 25 Texas A & M 26-20 the following week. >> The Falcons scored 27 or more points in four of the five games in their current win streak. The high was 41 against Toledo. The low was 23 against Central Michigan. >> BGSU ranks sixth (one behind Miami) in MAC scoring. The Falcons are averaging 27.7 ppg, while MU averages 30.7 in conference action. >> Bowling Green is seventh in total offense (368.4 ypg), seventh in rushing (153.0 ypg) and seventh in passing (215.4 ypg). >> Senior Connor Bazelak has been a key to effectively managing BGSU's offense and capitalizing on its assets. He has completed 67.6 percent of his passes this year, producing 2,453 passing yards with 15 TDs and four interceptions. >> The Falcons most dangerous offensive weapon is tight end Harold Fannin Jr. BGSU has found many ways to get him the ball. Not only does he lead the team in receiving, he is a national leader. Overall, Fannin has 92 receptions totaling 1,295 yards with nine TDs. >> Terion Stewart leads the Falcon run game with 151 carries for 856 yards and six touchdowns. His 95.1 ypg ranks first among MAC rushers. Jason Patterson has logged 90 carries totaling 397 yards and four TDs. >> As well as the offense has done, the Falcons success is also related to its defensive work. In conference-only stats, BGSU ransk second in scoirng defense (15.4 ppg), third in total defense (288.7 ypg), fourth in rushing defense (119.3 ypg). It is second in pass defense (169.0 ypg) and pass defense efficiency (103.1). >> The Falcons are coming off a 38-13 win over Ball State. MIAMI (7-4, 6-1 MAC)
>> The RedHawks have survived the loss at Toledo to run off six straight wins despite a spate of injuries on both sides of the ball. With a 10-day break since their recent win over Northern Illinois, head coach Chuck Martin is hopeful MU can be relatvely healthy for Bowling Green. >> One spot that has remained RELATIVELY healthy this year is quarterback. Senior Brett Gabbert has been at the helm all for all 11 games after coming back from a very serious leg fracture last year. Gabbert struggled, uncharacteristically throwing seven interceptions in MU's firt five games. He has thrown one since that time -- last week in a 20-9 win over Northern Illinois. >> Cade McDonald was the RedHawks leading receiver earlier this year, but he has missed significant time recently. Martin was hopeful the recent break would help his availability. >> Reggie Virgil and Javon Tracy have been important parts of the RedHawks resurgent passing game in recent weeks. Virgil has 33 catches totaling 705 yards with eight TDs. Tracy has a team-high 41 catches fpr 669 yards with six scores. >> The RedHawks run game picked up with the start of MAC play. Keyon Mozee is second among MAC backs in conference action, averaging 109 ypg -- just one yard behind leader Al-Jay Henderson of Buffalo. Mozee had reached 100 yards in five straight games before finishing with 91 last week against a tough Northern Illinois defense. >> As was the case in 2023, this year's Miami defense is a big piece of MU's success. In MAC action, the RedHawks are third scoring defense (15.4 ppg), second in total defense (278.4 ypg), second in rushing defense (98.6 ypg), fourth in passing defense (179.9) and first in pass defense efficiency (98.3). >> Martin recently noted that the young MU secondary has made big strides since the beginning of the year. It entered 2024 as the least experienced unit on the team, and it showed during non-conference play. "Everything (our opponents) threw was a completion," Martin said. Sophomore Raion Strader has been one of the bright spots, registering 45 tackles, 14 passes defended and two interceptions so far in 2024. >> Miami's linebacking corps continues to be a team strength. Matt Salopek, 2023 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, has 99 tackles and should break the 100 mark (for a fourth time) early Friday. Ty Wise has a size-speed combination that allows MU to do some special things on defense. Last year, he was a key part of limiting DeQuan Finn's damage in the MAC Championship game. >> The RedHawks defensive line did well in limiting several potent run games this year. At the same time, Corey Suttle, Brian Ugwu and associates typically do a good job of pressuring opposing quarterbacks. >> As other teams found out, Bowling Green's combination of rushing and passing production is a big challenge. Martin said it will take a total team effort to handle the Falcons. RedHawks hold off Mercer to win tourney Ballroom walk-through aided press prep  Antwone Woolfolk's strong play inside and on the boards was a big plus for Miami again Tuesday. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
FORT MEYERS, Fl -- The Miami RedHawks (4-2) added a trophy to their fun in the Florida Sun Tuesday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena as they edged Mercer (3-4) 75-72 to win the Fort Meyers Tip-off tournament Palms Division. "It's a big step for us," Miami head coach Travis Steele said. "We've got to get used to these moments, so that when we get to Cleveland (and the MAC Tournament), we've done it before." Miami, which defeated Siena 70-68 in tournament action Monday, put five players in double figures against Mercer. Peter Suder, who earned Tournament MVP honors, led MU with 16 points while Eian Elmer tallied 15 points. Antwone Woolfolk and . . . Strong first half sets up MU tourney win RedHawks to face Mercer in Tuesday trophy game  Peter Suder gets into the lane. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
FORT MEYERS, FL -- Defense hasn't exactly been the strong point of Miami's men's basketball game team over the first couple weeks. That must change, head coach Travis Steele has said on several occasions. At least by what he saw Monday, the RedHawks are making progress. Miami (3-3) held Siena (2-3) to 21 first half points, and MU went on to post a 70-58 victory Monday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. The Saints . . . RedHawks prevail in defensive battle Defeat Huskies for sixth straight win  Dylan Downing celebrates Miami's first score. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Wide receiver Javon Tracy's 30-yard TD pass to Reggie Virgil was part of a 17-point first half run that helped propel Miami (7-4, 6-1 MAC) to a 20-9 win over Northern Illinois (6-5, 3-4 MAC) Tuesday at Yager Stadium. It was the sixth straight win for MU, which finishes its regular season Nov. 29 at Bowling Green. The Huskies, who saw their . . . In case you were wondering . . . . . . here are the MAC tie-breaker solutions The top two teams in the league will play in the MAC Championship Game
at Detroit’s Ford Field on Saturday, Dec. 7. Ties will be broken by the following criteria: Wolverines wipe out early Miami leads, pull away  ANN ARBOR, MI -- Hosting Michigan (3-1) connected on 58.3 percent from the field and out-rebounded Miami 44-23 as the Wolverines pulled away from MU for a 94-67 victory Monday at the Crisler Center.
Miami (2-2) stayed with the hosts early and held several small leads during the opening stanza. The RedHawks were up 30-27 with 4:54 to go, but UM went on a 10-0 run. Michigan was up 42-36 at intermission. The Wolverines quickly . . . Martin expects physical battle between similar squads RedHawks face tough Huskie defense, ground game  Yager Stadium turf will not be a place for the faint of heart Tuesday night, according to Miami football head coach Chuck Martin.
The occasion is a matchup between Martin's RedHawks and visiting Northern Illinois. It's the same Huskie team - minus a few injuries -- that handed Notre Dame its only loss this season. NIU is also the only team to beat Bowling Green in MAC play this year. It's also a Huskie team that has . . . Miami defeats Kent State for fifth straight win  Javon Tracy advances on one of his four catches for 76 yards and a TD. (MVSmith/MRO) OXFORD, OH -- Brett Gabbert threw for two touchdowns and Miami (6-4, 5-1 MAC) ran for two more as the RedHawks defeated winless Kent State (0-10, 0-6 MAC) Wednesday at Yager Stadium.
It was the fifth straight win for Miami, which is part of a three-way tie atop the MAC standings. Ohio and Bowling Green also have one loss. MU owns a win over Ohio earlier this year and visits BGSU in the season finale Nov. 29. The RedHawks are also now bowl eligible. Kent State scored its only touchdown before the game was two minutes old. Capitalizing on a RedHawk fumble, KSU scored . . . |
Editor-Publisher Mike SmithMike grew up in Mid-American Conference football and basketball territory and returned there after military service. He has been covering MAC football and men's basketball for much of the last several decades. 
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