MIAMI BASKETBALL

RedHawks return to win column

Woolfolk leads six players in double figures

Peter Suder puts up a fadeaway shot (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
​OXFORD, OH  -- Antwone Woolfolk registered a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds as Miami (15-5, 7-1 MAC) defeated Eastern Michigan (10-10, 4-4 MAC) 89-80 Tuesday at Millett Hall.

It was a bounce-back win for MU, which absorbed its first MAC loss of the year (102-75) Saturday at Akron. The RedHawks remain alone in second place, one game behind UA and a game in front of Toledo. EMU is tied for fifth with Kent State. 

Starting sophomore forward Eian Elmer was . . . 

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Brant Byers drives to the rim against Jalin Billingsley. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . out with an injury, but MU still managed to put six players in double figures. Joining Woolfolk were Peter Suder (16), Mekhi Cooper (13), Brant Byers (12), Reece Potter (10) and Evan Ipsaro (10). Byers made the first start of his career.
Eastern Michigan was led by Christian Henry (25 points). Arne Osojnik contributed 15 off the  bench, while Jalen Terry added 12 points. 

Both teams held small leads early in the contest. The visitors were in front 30-29 following a trey by Henry with 5:30 to go in the first half. However, a Cooper layup at 5:18 put the RedHawks in front, and they built a 47-38 halftime lead. 

Miami expanded its edge early in the second stanza. Two Ipsaro free throws at 15:33 gave MU a 59-38 advantage. However, EMU began to chip away as RedHawk shooting fell off from 62.5 percent in the first half to 37.9 percent over the final 20 minutes. 

Eastern Michigan pulled within eight points several times, but MU was able to stem the tide and finished with a nine-point advantage. 

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