MIAMI BASKETBALL

RedHawks escape Buffalo with another two-point win

Skaljac reaches double figures for fifth straight game

By MIKE SMITH
BUFFALO, NY -- A week after missing a game due to illness, Luke Skaljac was a key contributor as No. 23 Miami edged Buffalo 73-71 Tuesday at Alumni Arena.
The sophomore guard scored 19 points, with seveal baskets coming at critical points in another hard-fought battle between the two teams. Miami forced overtime and edged UB 105-102 back on Jan. 17. 

The RedHawks' 73 points Tuesday . . . 

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. . . were far below their previous mark and a season average of 92.8 ppg. While many teams try to slow MU down, the low total also owed to several other factors, as well.
• Miami -- among national leaders in 3-point shooting -- struggled from long distance for the second straight game. The RedHawks hit just 6 of 22 (27%) 3-point attempts.
• MU also got very little from the free throw line. In fact, The Red and White did not shoot a free throw until midway through the second half. Eventually, they connected on three of six charity tosses, missing three of their last four tries during the final 32 seconds. 

When senior guard Noah Batchelor knocked down a three from the top of the key with 9.4 seconds left, UB pulled within two. After MU missed the front end of a bonus at the other end, Ryan Sabol's hurried three from the corner just before time expired missed. It was Miami's fourth one-possession win in its last five games. 

With the victory, Miami (23-0, 11-0 MAC) stayed unbeaten. Buffalo fell to 14-9 (4-7 MAC). It was the Bulls seventh loss in their last eight games. 

As he did in the first meeting (24 points) Angelo Brizzi was once again a big contributor for the Bulls. He led all scorers Tuesday, hitting 9 of 14 from the field on the way to 22 points. Daniel Freitag, the MAC's top free throw shooter 148/181), hit all eight shots from the line while totaling 18 points. However,  Sabol, who had scored at least 20 points in each of his previous five games, was held to eight points against Miami. 

Buffalo hit 9 of 28 3-point tries (32%) and knocked down 14 of 18 free throws -- 11 more makes than MU. However, Miami totaled eight more field goals overall, hitting 32 of 58 (55%). Much of the RedHawks' success came inside as they out-scored the hosts 48-28 in the paint. 

FIRST HALF
Miami lead early, but could get no more than a seven point advantage before intermission. Buffalo tied the contest at 25-all and the two teams traded small leads before MU took a 38-35 edge to the break. 

​SECOND HALF
It looked like MU might break away early in the second stanza when it scored 10 straight points. Buffalo, however, chipped away with a 12-6 run. All six Miami points came from Skaljac.

Back-to-back threes by Freitag and Brizzi tied the contest at 62-all with 6:45 remaining. While Buffalo never held another lead, it tied the game two more times before Woolfolk (4) and Skaljac (4) sparked an 8-2 RedHawk run. 

Buffalo scored five of the game's final six points, but came up two short at the final horn. 

"We knew it was going to be a tight game the entire way and we had to get stops," Miami head coach Travis Steele said in a postgame interview. "I thought we got timely stops in the last four minutes to be able to come away with a win."

NOTES:
• Skaljac scored 15 of his career-high 19 points after halftime. The nine baskets came from a variety of locations and array of shots - drives, short jumpers, a trey, spinners and  and step backs. 
• Joining Skaljac in double figures for MU were Brant Byers (11) and Peter Suder (10). Eian Elmore added nine points on three treys. 
• Skaljac also recorded five steals on the night -- all in the second half.
• Buffalo out-rebounded Miami 36-28, including a 13-5 edge in offensive caroms. 
• The Bulls are currently in eighth place. Eight teams qualify for the MAC post-season tournament. 
• Miami set the program record for most consecutive road wins in a season (9-0)
•  Suder (8 assists) has dished out at least eight assists in three of the past four games.
•  Ten players saw the floor for Miami, and the RedHawks outscored Buffalo 16-9 in bench points. Notably, Trey Perry made some big plays at both ends, finishing with six points and four rebounds in just over nine minutes of action.