MIAMI BASKETBALL

MU win search continues after loss at Ohio

Lairy tallies game-high 24 points 

Mekhi Lairy 's big second half wasn't enough to give Miami its first win since January 10. (MVSmith/MRO files)

By MIKE SMITH
ATHENS, OH -- Ohio connected on 51.9 percent of its shots after intermission to pull away from Miami in the second half and post a 78-68 win over the RedHawks at the Convocation Center.

It was the 10th win in 11 home games for Ohio, which raised its record to 4-6 MAC, 12-11 overall. Miami dropped its sixth straight, falling to 1-9 MAC, 7-16 overall.

Miami's Mekhi Lairy, who had just two points in the first half, finished with . . .

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. . . a game-high 24 and accounted for two of MU's six 3-point goals. He hit 9-of-12 shots from the field after intermission. Morgan Safford (18) was the only other RedHawk player in double figures. Anderson Mirambeaux chipped in nine points. 

Jaylin Hunter, who hit three of Ohio's four triples on the day, led the Bobcats with 23 points. He made 8-of-12 from the field overall and hit all four free throws. Senior Dwight Wilson III was a strong presence inside, scoring 21 points on 7-of-10 from the field and 7-of-7 at the line. He also registered nine rebounds. Elmore James and Miles Brown were both one-point short of double figures with nine apiece. 

Ohio, which had won 19 of the previous 22 meetings, led all the way, except for a brieff 4-4 tie. However, the RedHawks stayed relatively close in a first half when neither team shot particularly well. Miami made 10-of-28 (35.7%) from the field and went 3-of-12 outside the arc. Ohio connected on 12-of-31 (38.7%) overall and 2-of-12 (16.7%) on treys. That was good enough, however, for a 33-29 Bobcat halftime lead.

The lead fluctuated early in the second stanza, but Miami pulled with two at 9:54 following a pair of free throws by Mabrey. It was the freshman's only points of the day. Mabrey had scored in double figures the two previous games (against Eastern Michigan and Toledo), but went 0-for-9 (0-for-7 on treys) against the 'Cats. 

Ohio quickly seized momentum again, going on a 10-2 run. Half of those points came at the line. In fact, 12 of its last 25 points came from the stripe. Meanwhile, Lairy registered 11 of Miami's final 17 points.