MIAMI BASKETBALL

Suder's career night sends MU over Falcons

Junior hits 17-of-21 while scoring 42 points

Peter Suder's 42 points were the most by a Miami player since Wally Szczerbiak's 43 back in 1999. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Less than a week after earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Fort Meyers Tip-In Tournament (Palms Division), RedHawks junior Peter Suder put his game on display for the home crowd Monday night. 
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They no doubt liked what they saw -- a lot -- as the junior erupted for 42 points to lead Miami (5-2) past Air Force (2-7) at Millett Hall. His total was a career high and the most by a Miami player since Wally Szczerbiak scored 43 points in 1999. 
Suder, who also . . . 

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. . . plays an aggreesive and hustling style on defense, scored from inside, mid-range and outside while logging 38 minutes in a still-young season. Even more impressively, he connected on 17--of- 21 shots  (81%) from the field. He was three-of-four from beyond the arc and five-of-nine at the line. 

"Obviously, Peter was incredible tonight," Miami head coach Travis Steele said. "We got the right matchups for him out there and gave him a lot of space . . . (It was) just get out of the way and let him go." 

Freshman Luke Skaljac scored seven points against the Falcons. (MVSmith/MRO)

No other RedHawks reached double figures, but Eian Elmer finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Luke Skaljac played 12 minutes off the bench and scored 7 points while hitting all three field goals.

"He's going to be outstanding. He's a playmaker (and) he can score at all three levels," Steele said of the freshman. "I think people are just seeing a fraction of what he can do (down the line)."

Skaljac's 3-point goal was the only Miami triple of the night not off the shooting hand of Suder. The RedHawks were 4-of-13 outside the arc and 30-of-53 (56.6%) from the floor overall. 
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Air Force shot 48.9 percent (23-of-47) from the floor and 45.5 percent (10-of-22) on threes. That gave the Falcons six more treys than MU. However, AFA made just f-of-13 free throws. 

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Mekhi Cooper draws a second half shooting foul. (MVSmith/MRO)

Miami grabbed an early 9-2 lead, but Air Force fought back and the contest was tied at 13-all with 11:20 remaining. Miami moved back in front and was up by five following a Suder jumper at 8:28. 

A triple by Jeffrey Mills at 5:44 put the Falcons in front again, and they took a 30-29 lead to intermission. 

Suder's steal, followed by his and-one score, moved MU back in front at 19:27. It was the first of several quick lead changes. However, Miami moved in front for good (38-37) on a Suder layup at 15:31. 

The RedHawks pulled away later in the period, with Suder scoring all eight points in an 8-0 run that put Miami up by 12 points (64-52). Air Force could get no closer than eight points after that. 

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Eian Elmore dives for a loose ball. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES:
>> Luke Kearney led Air Force with 16 points, followed by Ethan Taylor (12) and Caleb Walker (11).
>> Steele indicated he is pleased with the progress his team is making on defense after some early issues. Playing against Air Force brought up a new kind of challenge. The Falcons are coached by Joe Scott, who spent several years at Princeton before moving to Air Force. That experience likely influenced his offensive philosophy. 
"Their style of play is funky -- very funky," Steele said. It is "largely a free-flowing offense that is hard to guard. . . . You've got to keep playing hard and keep swinging (to the end of the shot clock)."
>> Steele was particularly pleased with his team's defensive work against Taylor. "He's averaging 18 (or) 19 a game. We held him to 12 points, and six of his points were circus shots at the end of the shot clock."  
>> In addition to his stellar offensive night, Suder put the work in on defense, as well, including against Taylor. "I thought some of his (Suder's) best plays of the night . . .  were on the defensive end," Steele said, noting "three steals and multiple deflections" by the 6-5 junior guard. 

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Peter Suder deflects a pass before turning it into a layup for two of his 42 points. (MVSmith/MRO)

Eian Elmore launches a 3-point shot while Kyle Marshall defends. (MVSmith/MRO)