MIAMI BASKETBALL

​RedHawks survive poor shooting night; defeat EMU

By MIKE SMITH
YPSILANTI, MI -- One of the nation's best 3-point shooting teams had one of its worst long distance performances in recent memory, but the Miami RedHawks nonetheless survived with a 74-64 win over Eastern Michigan Tuesday at the Gervin GameAbove Center.

With the victory, MU remained undefeated -- 28-0 overall and 15-0 in MAC play. The Eagles fell to 10-19 overall (4-12 MAC). 
Miami, which . . . 

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. . . rose to No. 21 in this week's AP poll appeared to be in total control when it took a 43-22 lead to intermission. However, MU shooting went cold in the final period, with the RedHawks connecting on just one of 10 from beyond the arc. Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, found a hot hand in Gregory Lawson. He hit 5 of 10 treys and 7 of 14 from the field while scoring 24 of his 29 game points in the second period. 

Overall, EMU out-scored the visiting RedHawks 42-31 after intermission. Miami led by 26 points (50-24) with 17-10 remaining. However, Lawson then ran off 10 straight points - five at the foul line. 

After baskets by Trey Perry and Peter Suder, Eastern Michigan went on a 13-2 run that included three triples by Lawson. The rally pulled EMU within six (56-50) with 8:17 to go. 

That turned out to be as close as Eastern Michigan could get. Antwone Woolfolk's and-one at the other end pushed the RedHawks lead to nine, and MU maintained a seven to 10 point advantage down the stretch. Woolfolk and Suder combined for 13 of those final 18 Miami points. 

The RedHawks entered Tuesday ranked second nationally in points per game (92.3 ppg) but finished with 74 against Eastern Michigan. It was MU's second lowest total of the season. Miami defeated Buffalo 73-71 Feb. 3 but reached 86 or more in the next four contests. 

Brant Byers led MU Tuesday, totaling 16 points while connecting on 6 of 18 overall and 2 of 9 threes. Woolfolk recorded 14 points and Suder added 13, along with a team-high 10 rebounds. Almar Atlason, who recorded MU's only other made 3-pointer, chipped in 12 points while hitting 3 of 12 overall and 1 of 8 treys.

As a team, Miami shot 41 percent from the field and 18 percent (5 of 28) from outside the arc. The Red and White were 13 of 19  (68%) at the line.

Only two EMU players reached double figures. In addition to Lawson's 29, Mohammad Habhab tallied 10. Godslove Nwabude scored five points, grabbed 10 rebounds and recorded five blocks. With Miami struggling from distance, EMU was able to add defensive pressure inside, eventually totaling eight blocks. 

NEXT: 
Miami moves on to Kalamazoo for a nationally televised matchup against Western Michigan Friday (6 p.m. CBSSN). 
Eastern Michigan off until Tuesday when it visits Buffalo (6:30 p.m., ESPN+)

NOTES
•  Forty of MU''s 74 points came in the paint. Twenty points wwere turnover-related. 
•  Eian Elmer finished with eight points and eight rebounds. 
•  Rebounds were nearly even, with Miami holding a slight 46-44 edge. 
•  Lawson, a freshman guard, went 0 for 7 and failed to score Saturday against Toledo. However, he has reached double figures in seven of his last nine games. The 29 points was a career high. 
•  While Miami's shooting issues were mostly in the second halfm Eastern Michigan struggled  early. The Eagles missed their first 11 shots from the field. 

•  Despite Lewis' productive night for EMU, he RedHawks held Eastern Michigan to 34.4% shooting from the floor, the lowest field-goal percentage of any Miami opponent in MAC play since March 2, 2024 (also at EMU).​
•  Miami committed a season-low four turnovers as a team
•  Suder's double-double was his second of the season (Jan. 20 vs. Kent State); the senior guard now has 1,502 career points between Bellarmine and Miami.
•  The RedHawks extended their road winning streak to 13 overall games and to 12 games in a season (each are the best in program history).