MIAMI BASKETBALL

Dean scores 20 as Miami pummels Chippewas

Bradley Dean gets off a shot for three of his game-high 20 points. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- The Miami RedHawks (7-7 MAC, 13-14 overall) have been riding a roller coaster this season. Their 7-7 Mid-American Conference record provides at least partial testimonial to the ride, but Saturday's 88-60 pummeling of Central Michigan (10-4 MAC, 16-11 overall) at Millett Hall is more evidence of  MU's fluctuating fortunes. 

"I love roller coasters, but not (with) my team" Miami Head Coach Travis Steele said after the victory. 

Miami dazzled a week ago, drubbing Ball State 80-59. It then drizzled in a 77-58 loss at Western Michigan Tuesday.  Steele called the latter an "abysmal performance." 

Saturday's home court matchup against Central Michigan, which handed MU a 16-point defeat January 23, figured to be a tough challenge. The Chippewas are  third in the MAC standings, while Miami is tied for sixth. However, the . . . 

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Jaquel Morris tries to split the Central Michigan defense. (MVSmith/MRO)

SLAM AND BAM -- No foul was called when Reece Potter attempted to dunk in the above shot. However, the freshman managed to get another attempt down (below). MVSmith/MRO)

. . . RedHawks moved in front early and pulled away with impressive performances on both ends. 

Connecting on 51.6 percent from the field overall and 53.3 percent on treys, Miami scored 46 points in the first half. Meanwhile, it held CMU to 33.3 percent from the field and 17.3 percent on threes. Managing just 24 points, the Chippewas found themselves trailing by 22 at intermission. 

Back-to-back triples by Mekhi Cooper and Anderson Mirambeaux allowed Miami to push its advantage to 28 points less than two minutes into the second half.

A 10-0 Chippewas run, capped by Aidan Rubio's trey, brought CMU within 18 points. That, however, was as close as CMU could get. Miami's offense kicked in again, eventually estalbishing a 31-point advantage with 1:03 remaining. The RedHawks hit 11 of 21 (52.3%) from the field and 7 of 11 (63.6%) in the second stanza.

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Five RedHawks reached double figures, with junior guard Bradley Dean coming off the bench to score a season-high 20 points in 28 minutes. He made 5 of 7 shots from the field , including 4 of 5 3-point attempts. Freshmen Evan Ipsaro and Reece Potter tallied 15 apiece, followed by Mirambeaux (12) and Cooper (10). 

"We got a lot of good performances out of a lot of different people," Steele said. 

Central Michigan had just one player in double figures. Anthony Prichard knocked down 6 of 8 shots from the field on the way to 16 points. 

"I think we are one of the most dangerous teams in the league. We've shown we can beat anybody . . . but we've got to get (more consistent). Great teams are consistent," Steele said. "We're trying to figure out how to create that consistency. That's the key. . . That's the magic potion." 

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Anderson Mirambeaux (12 points, 5 rebounds) was one of five RedHawks in double figures. (MVSmith/MRO)

NEXT: Miami has four games left in the regular season. The next two are on the road: at Bowling Green (7 p.m. ET, Tuesday) and at Eastern Michigan. The RedHawks have struggled on the road, winning four and losing 10. The last road win came Jan. 30 at Kent State. 
Miami's last two games are at Millett. However, the competition is stiff with Toledo and Ohio coming to town. Both have already clinched spots in the post-season MAC tourney.

NOTES:
-- CMU had slight edges in total rebounds (34-32) and points in the paint (22-20).
-- Miami's bench outscored the visitors 55-20.
-- The RedHawks outscored CMU in points off turnovers 22-12.
-- Central Michigan made just 10 of 19 free throws. MU knocked down 19 of 23. ​

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