MIAMI BASKETBALL

Mirambeaux, offense click as MU routs Bulls

Anderson Mirambeaux's powerful inside game was a big part of Miami's impressive offensive performance. (MVSmith/MRO file)

By MIKE SMITH
BUFFALO, NY -- If there was a lesson to be learned from last Friday's loss at Toledo, the Miami RedHawks probably deserve an "A" on their retest.

There was no second-half fade this time as MU turned a two-point halftime lead into a impressive 86-65 win over Buffalo Tuesday at Alumni Arena.  With its first MAC victory of 2023-24, Miami (1-2 MAC) raised its overall record to 7-8. UB dropped to 2-13 overall and 1-2 in MAC play.

In the recent setback at Toledo, MU lost an 11-point halftime lead before falling 68-64. Against Buffalo, Miami turned up the heat after intermission. The RedHawks shot a withering 85.7 percent (18 of 21) from the field while outscoring UB 40-19 in the second period. That included four of five 3-point attempts. 

Anderson Mirambeau led the RedHawks, hitting 10 of 13  shots while scoring 21 points. Bryce Bultman hit all six of his shots from the field while scoing 14 points and dishing out six assists. Ryan Mabrey (12) and Eian Elmer (10) also reached double figures. Mekhi Cooper . . . 

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. . . and Jaquel Morris chipped in nine apiece. 

Shawn Fulcher, who is averaging 7.2 ppg, paced the Bulls with 20 points. Ryan Sabol registered 14 points. However, UB scoring leaders Sy Chapman (18.8 ppg) and Jonnivius Smith (13.2 ppg) were held to a total of 11 points. 

The two teams battled evenly early and were tied at 16-all. When Sabol drained three straight free throws at 9:53, UB  owned its last lead of the game, 19-18. 

Mirambeaux then went to work. Although he totaled just 17 minutes on the court, it was 17 minutes of power offense. He scored the game's next six points and nine of MU's next 13. 

Thanks to Fulcher, the Bulls stayed close and trailed by two (38-36) at the break. However, Miami began to pull away early in the second stanza. Two Mirambeaux buckets capped a 9-0 run. After a Lloyd McVeigh trey, Mirambeaux hit two more baskets to start a 10-2 RedHawks run. 

Bultman's back-to-back treys left MU in front 67-48, but after UB scored five straight, Miami head coach Travis Steele called a time out. When play resumed, the RedHawks regained momentum. Morris' dunk kicked off an 11-2 run that gave MU a 76-55 advantage and Miami cruised in from there. 

NOTES:
-- Miami returns home for its next two games. MU hosts Eastern Michigan Saturday (1 p.m. ET) and meets Bowling Green Tuesday (7 p.m.) 
-- Tuesday's matchup was the only UB-MU meeting on this year's schedule. The RedHawks also face Akron and Kent State just once.
-- MU connected on 65.5 from the field on the night and 35.7 percent on threes. Most of those makes came in the second half. 
-- Opponents have often thrived in the paint this year. Although UB had a 25-22 rebound advantage and 15-2 edge in second chance points, Miami owned a 56-38 advantage in poins in the paint. 
-- Miami point guard Evan Ipsaro, who was injured against Western Michigan and did not play at Toledo, came off the bench to play 17 minutes against UB. He did not take a shot. Freshman guard Eian Elmore got the start, reording 21 minutes. In addition to his 10 points, he registered four steals and four rebounds. 
-- The RedHawks commited just seven turnovers. Buffalo recorded 13. Miami finished with a 22-10 edge in points off turnovers. 
-- Miami has yet to win more than two straight but has lost more than two straight just once. That was a road trip in which MU fell at Ohio State, Davison and Wright State in early to mid-December.
-- The RedHawks still had a decent lead (14 points) when Steele called a time out with 9:28 remaining. Given a relatively young roster and the recent experience at Toledo when UT wiped out a double-digit Miami lead, the time out appeared to be well spent. Not only did his squad steady the ship, MU went on another run to put the game away.