MIAMI BASKETBALL

RedHawks hold off late Marshall rally for road win

​HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Miami  (4-3) edged past Marshall (2-5) 79-74 at the Cam Henderson Center on Saturday night. Mekhi Cooper recorded 17 points to lead all players in scoring. Three other players scored in double-figures for Miami: Evan Ipsaro (16), Bradley Dean (14) and Darweshi Hunter (11). Nate Martin led the Thundering Herd with 14 points.
 
How it Happened:
Hunter knocked down a three-point field goal to score the opening points of the game. Marshall held the advantage at 8-7 before . . .

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Mekhi Cooper

​. . . Bryce Bultman put in a mid-range jump shot to retake the lead at 9-8. Shortly after, Hunter dished it to Ipsaro, who shot it from downtown to make it 12-8. Ipsaro then found his rhythm, as he scored yet another three at 15-10 with 8:30 left in the half.

The Thundering Herd answered by going on an 8-0 run to lead 18-15. The RedHawks evened the score at 20-20 thanks to Ipsaro's third three of the game. Miami closed out the first half on a three-point barrage, as Dean and Cooper combined for four threes to end the half up 32-24.

Just like the start of the game, Hunter put in a shot from beyond the arc coming out of the intermission. The RedHawks took their first double-digit lead of the game (37-26) off of a Bultman layup. Marshall made a strong push with 14:22 to play, closing within three points at 39-36. Eian Elmer ended the run with a layup, and Ipsaro banked in his fourth three of the game to bring the score to 44-39. Elmer joined the three-point party with 13:27 left to make it 47-42.

The Thundering Herd came within two points at 49-47. Cooper responded by scoring seven straight points for the Red and White to stretch their lead to 58-49. Miami took its largest lead of the night (71-53) with 6:18 to play.

​The RedHawks led by 18 points with 3:36 left on the game clock after Cooper passed it to Jaquel Morris for a dunk. Marshall made a late push, but it was not enough as Miami closed out with a 79-74 victory.

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