MIAMI BASKETBALL

MU beats UMass; earns school record 26th victory

RedHawks thrive at free throw line

By MIKE SMITH
AMHERST, MA -- Peter Suder tallied 23 points and the RedHawks scored 24 from the free throw line as No. 22 Miami defeated Massachusetts 86-77 Tuesday at the Mullins Center. 

With the win, Miami picked up its 26th victory -- a new school season record -- and remained perfect on the season. The RedHawks are also 13-0 in MAC play -- one game in front of Akron in the MAC standings. UMass, meanwhile, slips to 15-12 overall and 6-8 in MAC play -- good enough for seventh place. Eight MAC teams will qualify for the conference tourney.

The Minutemen have . . . 

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. . . been generous to a fault when it comes to free throw and allowed Akron to shoot 43 charity tosses in a 99-92 Zips win Saturday. Akron hit 39.

UMass recorded more field goals (29-26) in Tuesday's contest, with both teams shooting well (MU 50%; UMass 51) overall. Both teams hit 10 treys. However, Miami connected on 24 of 33 at the line, while UMass hit 9 of 16. 

Suder went 7 of 9 at the line and 7 of 12 from the field overall. Other RedHawks reaching double figures were Luke Skaljac (16), Almar Atlason (13) and Eian Elmer (11). Brant Byers chipped in nine points.

Senior guard Isaiah Placide, who had not reached double figures this year, erupted for 19 points to lead the Minutemen. Most came from long distance as his knocked down five of seven 3-point attempts. Ironically, he was just two of five at the free throw line. 

Center Leonardo Bettiol, meanwhile, gave the hosts a strong inside game, with the senior totaling 18 points. Danny Carbuccia added 15 points and Marcus Banks Jr. tallied 11. 

Miami fought off UMass for a two-point win (86-84) Jan. 27 in Oxford, and proved a tough out once again this time around. 

The RedHawks grabbed an early lead and stayed in front nearly all of the first stanza. An Almar Atlason triple at 12:36 left MU with a nine-point lead (22-13), but UMass pulled within two (37-35) before Miami took a 41-36 lead to intermission. 

The RedHawks were up eight (56-48) when Massachusetts went on a 12-4 run. Banks's triple from the corner knotted things at 60-all.  

After an MU miss on the front of a bonus oppportunity, Placide scored inside to give the Minutemen their only lead of the game. 

After Miami went back in front, UMass tied the game (68-68) a final time when Placide banked in a desperation 25-foot heave to beat the shot clock. 

An Elmer triple and Suder layup got MU going again as Miami outscored the Minutemen 18-9 down the stretch.  Half of the RedHawks final points came at the line as Miami hit nine of its final 13 free throw opportunities. 

NOTES:
•  Miami's win streak and ranking have helped attendance both at home and on the road. UMass reported an attendance of 7,524. Meanwhile, the RedHawks next home game (Friday, 8:30 p.m.) against Bowling Green appears to be another sellout. Friday's game will also be shown on CBSSN. It is one of two remaining home contests. After visiting Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan the following week. MU hosts Toledo March 3. The final regular season game is at Ohio (Friday, March 6, 2 p.m.). 
•  UMass hosts Buffalo Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN+)
•  The Red and White shot 50% or better from the field (26-of-52) for the 20th time this season and recorded under 10 turnovers (seven) for the 10th time this season.
•  Miami is 13-0 in conference play for the first time in program history.
•  The RedHawks scored 14 points off turnovers, whereas the Minutemen totaled just three.
•  Miami recorded nine fast-break points, while UMass didn't score any points in transition.
•  Elmer, Suder and Woolfolk each contributed two steals.
•  Skaljac's seven assists were the most of the game.
•  UMass out-rebounded Miami 33-26. 
•  Officials called a total of 41 fouls (26 on UMass, 15 on Miami). Bettiol was the only player to actually foul out, leaving with just under three minutes to play. Jayden Ndjigue and Banks had four fouls.
Miami's Suder finished with four after picking up the fourth with 4:10 remaining.