​MIAMI BASKETBALL

Craft scores 28  as RedHawks move to 2-0 MAC

Best conference start since 2010-11

By MIKE SMITH
MUNCIE, IN -- Kam Craft scored 28 points and the RedHawks survived Ball State's free throw-heavy offense as visiting Miami (10-4, 2-0 MAC) held off the Cardinals for an 80-72 victory Tuesday at Worthen Arena.

The Cardinals not only lead the MAC in free throws attempted (388), they have 95 more tries than the next team (Toledo, 293). That's an average of 27.7 charity tosses per game. Ball State (7-7, 1-1 MAC) got to the line for 30 against MU, sinking 21. 

Miami, meanwhile, finished the night . . .

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Kam Craft scored a game-high 28 points against Ball State. (MVSmith/MRO/file)

 . . . connecting on 12 of 16 tries. Nine of those opportunities came in the game's final 1:13. Mekhi Cooper hit six of seven during that stretch, and Evan Ipsaro drained his two shots to seal the RedHawks victory.

It was the fourth straight victory for Miami, which is off to a 2-0 start in conference play for the first time since 2010-11. Ball State fell after winning its previous four games -- including a 70-67 road victory at Kent State Saturday. The Cardinals went 18 for 26 at the line in that contest.

In addition to picking up 21 points at the line against Miami, BSU put several RedHawks in early foul trouble. Forward Antwone Woolfolk was on the court for a total of just 15 minutes before fouling out late in the game. Center Reese Potter and Peter Suder were both whistled for four fouls. 

Miami's biggest challenge against BSU was trying to stop 6-10, 265-pound center Payton Sparks. He recorded a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Seven of the caroms were on the offensive end, and he helped BSU outscore Miami 12-2 in second chance points. 
Although Sparks connected on eight of nine from the field, he was less successful at the line, sinking 6 of 10. The four misses were almost half of BSU's nine misses on the night. 

Jermahri Hill, who leads all MAC players in scoring, registered 20 points for BSU. Mickey Pearson (12) and Jeremiah Hernandez (11) were also in double figures.   

Miami, meanwhile, was led by Craft, who managed to score 28 points without shooting a single free throw. In fact, Suder was the only starter other than Cooper to shoot any free throws. He made one of two. Suder and Eian Elmer both finished with 11 points, while Cooper chipped in 10.

After a slow start by both teams, the RedHawks took an early lead.  Joey Hart's trey pulled the hosts in front 17-16 with 9:07 to go, but Miami regained the lead for good at 5:21 on a Suder drive. When Craft drained a three with four seconds remaining, MU took a 38-33 lead to the locker room. 

Miami's advantage reached as many as eight points several times in the second stanza, and BSU twice closed within two points. Reece Potter responded with a trey in at 12:17 to put MU up 54-49. Reece Potter, who had a career-high five assists, fed Potter for a layup at 6:15 for a 59-55 RedHawk edge. Miami finished with 20 assists on 31 field goals. It was MU's fifth consecutive game with at least 20 assists.

Ball State's next 12 points all came at the foul line, In fact, after Hill's bucket at 6:32, the Cardinals only two field goals came off layups in the final 17 seconds. By then, Miami was finally shooting free throws. Those were enough to preserve the win. 

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NOTES
•  Craft's 28 points were his second-highest point total of the season. He has scored in double figures in 12 of MU's 14 games.
• The RedHawks committed under 10 turnovers for the fifth time this season.
•  Miami returns home for a 3:30 p.m. contest against Western Michigan Saturday. The Broncos are just 3-11 (0-2 MAC) and have lost seven straight. The two MAC losses were to Toledo (76-70) and Bowling Green (83-79).
Junior guard Chansey Willis Jr. leads WMU scorers with an average of 15.8 ppg. He is also averaqging 5.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists per contest. 
Senior forward Owen Lobsinger (6-9, 225) has scored at an 11.1 ppg clip with 7.4 rpg.