MIAMI BASKETBALL

MU ends slide with 21-point win over Cardinals

Anderson Mirambeaux was a strong inside presence for Miami. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, Oh -- Miami's recently sputtering offense exploded for 50 second half points, and the RedHawks' defense recorded 12 steals as MU knocked off Ball State 80-59 Saturday at Millett Hall. 

The victory, which broke a three-game Miami losing streak, raised the RedHawks record to 6-6 in MAC play (12-13 overall). Ball State dropped to 4-8 MAC (12-13 overall) with its third straight loss. 

"I was happy for our guys to get a win. We went through a little tough stretch," Miami Head Coach Travis Steele said afterward.

Freshman guard Eian Elmer led four RedHawks in double figures. He hit 8 of 11 shots from the field while scoring 18 points. Center Anderson Mirambeaux scored 16 points and Darweshi Hunter added 13. Bradley Dean came off the bench to contribute 15 points and was one of three MU players with two steals. Six other RedHawks registered one steal apiece.

Forward Basheer Jihad, who . . .

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Eian Elmer hit 8 of 11 shots from the field while scoring 18 points. (MVSmith/MRO)

Evan Ipsaro passes to the wing. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . had 29 points in the first MU-BSU meeting back on Jan. 20, again led Ball State Saturday. However, he was "limited" to 18 points and Miami's defense forced him into nine turnovers -- equaling MU's team total for the day. Guard Davion Bailey also scored 18 points, while Jalin Anderson chipped in 11. 

"We had to get a lot better with (defending) Basheer Jihad," said Steele, who called the 6-9 junior forward "the hardest cover in our league . . . He shoots it. He drives it. He posts. He does everything." 

In particular, Steele was looking for improvement on his team's defense of Cardinal ball screens involving Jihad and Anderson. "I thought we were much better tonight in our rotation on Basheer and ball screen coverage."

For more than a half, it appeared that MU vs BSU Part II might be another battle to the wire -- or beyond (as in the first meeting). Miami led 30-29 at intermission Both teams hit 11 of 27 field goal tries and were 4 of 6 at the free throw line. The only difference was MU went 4 of 10 on threes and Ball State hit 3 of 11 long distance tries. 

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Reece Potter battles Basheer Jihad for a rebound. (MVSmith/MRO)

It was still a two-point differential (45-43) after BSU's Jailin Anderson hit a shot at 14:52. However, Dean then drained back-to-back treys and Jaquel Morris added a slam to give Miami a double-digit lead, 53-43. Ball State would get no closer than six points after that. 

With Mirambeaux keying the inside game and perimeter shooters finding their range, MU owned an 18-point lead following Hunter's triple at 4:55.  "Andy commands so much attention down there, but we've got good shooters, too," Steele observed. 

The RedHawks connected on 60.61 percent from the field after intermission. That included 7 of 13 (53.85%) on treys. Miami's biggest lead of the day was the final score as Dean capped the RedHawks route with a trey for the final 21-point margin. 

"Our defense has been getting better and better," Steele said. "I've been waiting for our offense to kind of catch up a little bit. I thought in the second half we did a little better job of running the offense . . . We found a really nice groove."

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Bradley Dean scored a season-high 15 points and recorded two steals. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES:
-- Steele started his post-game comments by voicing his appreciation for the One Miami Day crowd listed at 7,736. "That's the best crowd we've had since I've been here in two years. It goes a long way."
-- Also present for the occasion were a number of former Miami players. Several paid a visit to the RedHawks locker room after the win. 
-- Miami's bench outscored BSU's bench 29-2
-- Dean's 15 points was his season high.
"He had a great week of practice , and its not surprising the way he played," Steele said.
-- Cooper had a game-high five assists.
-- Hunter pulled down a game-best eight boards.
-- Miami shot 60.6% from the field (20-33) after halftime.
-- Ten  different RedHawks played at least 10 minutes in the contest.
-- The RedHawks hit at least 10 three-pointers in a game for the seventh time this season.

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Above, Anderson Mirambeaux battles Basheer Jihad for a loose ball. At left, Jaquel Morris scores against Mason Jones. (MVSmith/MRO)