MIAMI BASKETBALL

RedHawks blast Broncos for fifth straight win

OXFORD, OH  -- Hosting Miami connected on 58.3 percent from the field during a blistering first half performance that set up a 91-71 RedHawks victory over Western Michigan Saturday at Millett Hall.
It was the fifth consecutive win for MU, which is now 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2005. Western Michigan dropped its eighth straight outing. 
The RedHawks . . . 

Peter Suder passes around a Bronco defender (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . jumped in front early and kept their feet on the gas while holding WMU to eight field goals (8 of 28, 20.6%) in the first 20 minutes. The Broncos were 0 for 7 outside the arc in that span. 

Miami took a 54-23 lead to the locker room at intermission was up by 33 (72-39) with 9:23 remaining in the game. Western Michigan chipped away, but it could not get closer than 20 points. 

Miami's Kam Craft topped all scorers with 23 points, connecting on 9 of 13 from the field and 5 of 7 treys. Peter Suder hit 6 of 9 shots on the way to 16 points, while Brant Byers and Reece Potter tossed in 14 apiece. 
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Markhi Strickland led the Broncos with 14 points. Hannah JaVaughn and Chansey Willis Jr. added 12 apiece, while Owen Lobsinger chipped in 11 points. 

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Mekhi Cooper shoots a jumper. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES: 
• Miami shot over 50 percent from the floor for the eighth time this season. 
•  The RedHawks led for all but 13 seconds.
•  MU's largest lead was 34 points (60-26). 
•  Craft has scored 178 points in nine games since Dec. 12. He is 3 of 3 from the foul line in those nine games. He has scored 255 points on the season. During that time, he has made 6 of 7 tries at the line.
•  Seven RedHawks played at least 20 minutes. Starter Antwone Woolfolk wasn't one of them. He fouled out in the second half after 18 minutes of action. The 6-9 junior has picked up 14 fouls in the last three contests -- all MAC games. Head coach Travis Steele indicated cutting down on the fouls is a goal for Woolfolk, who previously played for Rutgers with Big Ten officials. 
• Miami is on the road for both games in the coming week. Next up is Northern Illinois. The Huskies are 4-11 overall and 0-3 MAC. They went down hard at Ohio Saturday, falling 108-70. The RedHawks then face Kent State on the road next Saturday. The Flashes are 11-4 overall and 2-1 MAC. 

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Bonus Photo Gallery. Click to enlarge
- All photos by Mike Smith -

Kam Craft drives the lane

Evan Ipsaro goes for the finish.

Brant Byers launches a triple.