Miami 119, Wilberforce 52

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University men’s basketball team (7-6) dominated Wilberforce in its non-conference finale on Monday, winning by a 119-52 margin inside Millett Hall. Miami scored the second-most points and recorded the second-largest winning margin in program history.

The RedHawks had seven players reach double figures in Mekhi Lairy (18), Dae Dae Grant (15), Elijah McNamara (14), Dalonte Brown (12), Milos Jovic (12), Bam Bowman (11) and Nike Sibande (10). The last time Miami had six players score in double figures was on Nov. 19, 2004.

Bowman, who led the squad with eight rebounds, put Miami on the scoreboard first and the ‘Hawks never looked back, leading for the entirety of the game. After Wilberforce came within three (6-3) just two minutes into the game, the RedHawks scored 19-straight points to take a commanding 25-3 lead with 13:50 to play in the first half. The 19-0 run was capped by a dunk from Sibande.

The Bulldogs sunk their lone three-point shot of the first half to end a scoring drought that spanned over four minutes. Miami responded with its second 19-0 run with Jovic and Lairy contributing nine and eight points, respectively. The RedHawks had the 44-6 lead with 8:32 remaining in the first half as the defense held the Bulldogs without a point for more than seven minutes.

Miami had three blocks during the first half of play.

The RedHawks went into the locker room with a 63-19 lead after shooting 80 percent during the first half.

Brown scored eight points in the first four minutes of the second half as Miami held a 76-23 lead at the first media timeout.

Lairy scored seven-straight points on the floor to increase the RedHawks’ lead to 98-33 before Jovic sunk a three-pointer to push Miami over the 100-point threshold for the first time in two years.

Benjamin Litteken entered the game late in the second half and sunk two three-pointers for a career-high six points.
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Miami opens conference play on the road on Saturday at Central Michigan. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.