​MIAMI BASKETBALL

MIAMI BASKETBALL

11/7/2023

Turnovers, free throws set up MU loss at Evansville

By MIKE SMITH
EVANSVILLE, IN -- After leading by eight points with 12:47 remaining, a young Miami RedHawks team fell to the Evansville Purple Aces 72-64 Monday at the Ford Center. It was the opener for both teams.
Turnovers and free throws helped turn the tide against MU, which shot 48.1 percent from the field overall and 50 percent (10 of 20) outside the arc. Evansville got to the free throw line for 30 tosses and made 21 (70%). Miami, which connected on 78.7 percent from the stripe last year, had 11 charity tosses and hit just four against Evansville.
The RedHawks also . . .

. . . committed 20 turnovers, contributing 18 points to the Aces, who registered 11 steals.
Although UE shot just 33.3 percent (5 of 15) from beyond the arc overall, senior Ben Humrichous got hot in the second half and made four of six goals from long distance. That accounted for all but one of the Aces treys for the whole night. Humrichous eventually scored 21 points to lead Evansville.

Miami senior Darweshi Hunter, a transfer from Northern Illinois, also scored 21 points - most on six of eight treys. However, he and sophomore Ryan Mabry (10 points) were the only RedHawks in double figures.

NOTES:
-- The lead see-sawed through much of the first half, but Miami took a 34-32 lead to intermission. It was still in front, 52-44, when Evansville went on a 12-0 run. Humrichous provided eight of the points in that run.
Miami was still within one (58-57) following a Hunter bucket at 7:10, but UE expanded its advantage after that. Seven of its final nine points came at the free throw line.
-- Miami is without the services of Anderson Mirambeaux for the time being. That changed the RedHawks presence inside. With Mekhi Lairy finishing his career last year, MU is also breaking in young point guards.
-- MU got 16 points from its bench. Freshman forward Jackson Kotecki was the top contributor, hitting all four field goal tries while contributing eight points in nine minutes of playing time.

Comments are closed.

Editor-Publisher Mike Smith

Mike grew up in Mid-American Conference football and basketball territory and returned there after military service. He has been covering MAC football and men's basketball for much of the last several decades.
It's a toss-up as to whether he enjoys writing or photography best. No matter, though, because the goal is to inform and entertain readers through both.