​MIAMI BASKETBALL

Late lead slips away as MU falls to Falcons

Reece Potter led MU with a career-high 17 points. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- A late rally gave Miami the halftime lead. Another late rally gave Bowling Green the victory. 

Marcus Hill scored 23 points, including the go-ahead basket as Bowling Green (13-4, 4-1 MAC) pulled out a 78-73 win over Miami (8-9, 2-3 MAC) Tuesday at Millett Hall. It was the third straight win for BGSU, which has won 11 of its last 12 outings. 
Hill, who ranks second among MAC scorers (20.2 ppg), was joining in double figures by Rashaun Agee (15 points, 12 rebounds) Trey Thomas (14 points) and Jason Spurgin (10 points).

"They've got a really nice team," Miami head coach Travis Steele said. "They're old. They're big. They've got really good guard play. Marcus Hill is one of the best scorers in the country. . .  He really is relentless." 

Miami was led by freshman center Reece Potter, who recorded a career-high 17 points. Anderson Mirambeaux scored 12 points, while Darweshi Hunter contributed 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds. 

It was Hunter who gave . . . 

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. . .  MU its first lead of the opening period, beating the buzzer with a jump shot to put Miami up 37-36. 

Both teams held one-point leads early in the second half and the game was tied 44-44 with 16:44 remaining. Hunter then hit a triple to start a 9-2 Miami run. 

Anderson Mirambeaux and Rashaun Agee battle for a rebound. (MVSmith/MRO)

The hosts remained in front, leading by as many as eight points on two different occasions. A Hunter free throw at 5:35 put the RedHawks up 71-63. However, they would make just one more basket after that. Ryan Mabrey hit a jumper at 4:01 and MU led 73-67. They would not score again.

Bowling Green, meanwhile, chipped away. Agee's jumper pulled the Falcons within two (73-71), and n offensive foul on Mirambeaux (his fifth foul) at the other end turned the ball back over to BGSU. 

Eian Elmore gets inside for a basket. (MVSmith/MRO)

Hill missed a shot, but Agee got the rebound and his slam at 1:54 tied the game at 73-all. 

After a Miami miss at the other end, Hill drove in for a layup that moved the Falcons in front with 1:18 remaining. Bowling Green added four more points in the final 15 seconds for the final 78-73 margin. 

"I do think their pressure bothered us late,. We had those two critical turnovers late in the game" said Steele, who noted his remaining players must step up in the absence of point guard Evan Ipsaro and guard Bradley Dean. Both are out with injuries. 

"They really turned up the pressure when we took (Mekhi) Cooper out."

NOTES:
-- Miami had two more made field goals and both teams hit seven treys. The big difference was at the free throw line. Steele was still upset in post-game, pointing out a substantial free throw disparity. The Falcons had 31 charity toss  opportunities (making 19). Miami got 15 shots, sinking 10. 
-- MU connected on 51.85 percent from the field in the second half. Bowling Green, however, made 57.69 percent of its shots after intermission. 
-- Bowling Green had just one more rebound (35-34). 

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-- The Falcons committed just nine turnovers. Miami, which is still missing point guard Evan Ipsaro and guard Bradley Dean (both with injuries), registered 14 turnovers. Bowling Green owned an 18-14 edge in points off turnovers. 
-- Steele said Ipsaro is probably day-to-day and Dean may be another week away from is return. 
-- Miami's bench contributed 31 points. 
-- Bowling Green owned a 13-7 edge on second chance points and 34-30 advantage on points in the paint. 

Mekhi Cooper and Rashaun Agee fight for a rebound. (MVSmith/MRO)

Anderson Mirambeux splits the defense on his way to the basket. Mirambeaux cored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. (MVSmith/MRO)