MAC TOURNAMENT BASKETBALL

Late MU rally, foul line finish off Flashes

RedHawks headed to MAC Championship game

Miami's guard duo of Peter Suder  (23) and Kam Craft (17) combined for 40 points Friday, leading the RedHawks to a 72-64 win over Kent State. 
Suder recorded his second double-double of the MAC tournament with 23 points and 11 rebounds - a bit more conventional than Thursday's double against Eastern Michigan (7 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists). 
Craft,  who scored 24 Thursday, went scoreless before intermission against Kent State. However, he came out firing when play resumed, hitting a series of clutch shots a fiercely competitive game. All 17 of his points against KSU came in the second half. 
Eian Elmer added . . .

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. . . 10 points and eight boards. 
There were 11 ties and 19 leads gained, with both the teams trading body blows -- particularly in the second half. The Flashes led at intermission 33-32 thanks to a long three by Cian Medley with three seconds left.
Kent State's last lead was 60-58 following a Marquis Barnett layup at 5:18. Craft, then tied the game with a bucket one minute later and hit a triple to put Miami in front for good at 3:27. 

When the Flashes pulled within one at 65-64, Craft knocked down his fifth trey of the half. KSU was unable to score again, and Miami added four more free throws to seal its first MAC Tournament semifinal win since 2007. 
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NOTES: 
•  Kent State's Jalen Sullinger topped all scorers with 29 points. Barnett (11) and VonCameron Davis (10) also reached double figures. 
•  Both teams recorded 23 field goals. However, Miami made 11 of 30 beyond the arc, while KSU went 7 of 24 from long distance. 
• ​ Miami also helped its cause at the line, hitting 15 of 19 opportunties (78.9%). The Flashes were just 11 of 21 on charity tosses. 

MORE TO COME . . . 

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