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Turnover improvement could be key in final week MIAMI at WESTERN MICHIGAN Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET - University Arena -- Kalamazoo, MI  By MIKE SMITH
Part of last Saturday's activities at the Ohio vs. Miami basketball game was a tribute to the late Charlie Coles, who both played (1962-1965) in Oxford and coached the RedHawks (1996-2012). During a video message played before the game, former Miami hoops standout Wally Szczerbiak spoke of coach Coles' many qualities. Among them was his ability to often interject a bit of wit and entertainment to otherwise mundane post-game pressers. After later hearing current Head Coach Travis Steele lament his team's 21 turnovers against Ohio, one of Coles' post-game quotes came to mind. Addressing a series of turnovers during the game, Coles said, I would rather they just throw the ball in the stands than give it up and the other teams takes it in for a score. It was both funny and . . . RedHawks knock off Ohio for third straight win Remain in hunt for MAC tourney spot  Morgan Safford goes in for a second half dunk. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Make it three straight! The Miami RedHawks continued their late season surge Saturday with an 85-68 win over rival Ohio at Millett Hall. Miami's most recent Battle of the Bricks men's basketball victory was back in February of 2019. However, the duo of senior Mekhi Lairy and junior Morgan Safford combined for 50 points as the RedHawks (5-11 MAC, 11-18 overall) broke Ohio's six-game winning streak. The Bobcats (9-7 MAC, 17-12 overall) are already guaranteed a position in the upcoming MAC tourney's eight-team field. Miami, however, is still chasing the final spot. With Central Michigan's loss to . . . NEXT UP: Ohio Bobcats - 1 p.m. ET Millett Hall, Oxford, OH Streaking Bobcats are serious senior night challenge  Jackson Kenyon is one of the seniors to be honored Saturday. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
As satisfying as the last week has been for Miami players, the RedHawks have a chance to exponentially increase their positive vibes Saturday when MU meets a streaking Ohio team, starting with a 1 p.m. tipoff at Millett Hall. It's Senior Night and the last home game. A Miami victory would: -- Give the RedHawks their first three-game win streak of the campaign. -- Give MU its first victory over the rival Bobcats since Feb. 9, 2019. That was a 79-59 triumph at Millett Hall. -- Keep Miami in the hunt for the MAC tournament's eighth -- and final -- playoff spot. -- Give the seniors a win in their final home appearance. The latter would be . . . Inside game paves way for MU win over Falcons Mirambeaux, Morris combine for 32 points, 14 rebounds  Ryan Mabry ( top) battles Chandler Turner for a loose ball. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Anderson Mirambeaux came through for the Miami RedHawks again Tuesday, but this time he had help with an inside game that powered MU past Bowling Green 74-65 at Millett Hall. It was Miami's second straight victory, raising the RedHawks to 4-11 in MAC play (10-18 overall). Mirambeaux played a key role in both victories. Bowling Green, meanwhile, lost its eighth straight, joining Miami at 4-11 MAC (10-18 overall). Samari Curtis led the Falcons, scoring all 17 of his points in the second half. However, Chandler Turner (10 points) was . . . NEXT UP: Bowling Green - 7 p.m. ET Millett Hall, Oxford, OH Can RedHawks record first back-to-back MAC wins? By MIKE SMITH
Tuesday's MU vs BGSU matchup comes one month to the day since Miami and Bowling Green last met. The Falcons won that contest 83-73, with Leon Ayers III exploding for 31 points. It was a season-high for the 6-5 guard, who is averaging a healthy 17.4 ppg., along with 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Suffice it to say, he is a . . . Mirambeaux leads MU in comeback win over Huskies RedHawks rally from 20-point second half deficit  Anderson Mirambeaux was a key part of Miami's late rally against Northern Illinois. (MVSmith/MRO File) By MIKE SMITH
DEKALB, IL -- Among Anderson Mirambeaux's stats for Saturday's Miami win at Northern Illinois are the numbers "two" and "34." The senior committed just two fouls, and that helped him stay on the court for 34 minutes in a 66-65 RedHawks win over NIU at the Convocation Center. Mirambeaux led all scorers with 18 points. Among them was a game-tying triple to force overtime and six of MU's eight points in the extra period. It was an oh-so-welcome win for Miami, which recorded its third win against MAC competition this season. The RedHawks moved to 3-11 MAC and 9-18 overall. Northern Illinois, meanwhile, fell to 7-7 MAC and 11-16 overall. With Miami's chances of . . . Avoiding foul issues would help MU chances at NIU  By MIKE SMITH
With five games to go, the Miami RedHawks are three wins out of the eighth -- and final -- spot in the upcoming MAC tournament. Aside from tournament participation, the RedHawks would certainly like to close the campaign with a few wins. The next chance to do that comes Saturday against a Northern Illinois team that is currently tied for fifth (with Ohio) in the MAC standings. Although the Huskies lost at Ball State Tuesday. NIU is 6-3 over its last nine. Here are some more notes on the matchup . . . Toledo free throws sink Safford-less RedHawks  By MIKE SMITH
TOLEDO, OH -- The Miami RedHawks managed to stay with Toledo back on Jan. 31, finally falling by three (81-78). The Rockets, however, made sure there was no such drama in the second meeting as they posted a comfortable 89-71 victory over MU. It didn't help Miami that Morgan Safford was unavailable due to an injury from Saturday. The junior guard tallied 25 points in the first meeting. His absence put even more pressure on a relatively inexperienced team that has lost nine of its last 10 outings. As has been the case lately, fouls were . . . Foul line, rebounds pave way for CMU win over Miami  Morgan Safford recorded 12 points before fouling out. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Central Michigan's inside game kicked in during the second half and the Chippewas capitalized at the foul line to pull out a 66-60 win over Miami Saturday at Millett Hall. The victory broke a three-game losing streak for CMU, which raised its MAC record to 4-8 (9-16 overall). Miami, which picked up its second MAC win of the year Tuesday against Western Michigan, fell to 2-10 MAC, 8-17 overall. Chippewas senior guard Brian Taylor led all scorers with 22 points and also registered a game-high eight rebounds. Freshman Reggie Bass contributed 11 points. Miami, meanwhile, had four players . . . Mirambeaux, Lairy anchor RedHawk win over WMU  Kamari Williams slams home a dunk. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH OXFORD, OH -- There was at least one predictable thing about Miami's 85-78 victory over Western Michigan Tuesday at Millett Hall: the RedHawks offense went through Anderson Mirambeaux and Mekhi Lairy. Miami Head Coach Travis Steele has noted on several previous occasions that, given his young team's makeup, the RedHawks' offense necessarily runs through his big forward (Mirambeaux) and the quick but dimuative point guard (Lairy). Those two combined for 43 points, while two other RedHawks joined them in double figures to power MU to its second MAC win of the campaign. With the victory, Miami broke a seven-game losing streak and . . . Click Read More to continue . . .
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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. Archives
March 2023
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