​MIAMI BASKETBALL

Second half runs send Raiders past RedHawks

Craft leads MU offense with 23 points

Antwone Woolfolk scores two of his eight points. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Wright State (2-1) went on an 11-0 run, starting with just under seven minutes to play, and the Raiders went on to post an 80-68 win over Miami (1-1) Saturday at Millett Hall.

After hitting 53.3 percent from the field before intermission, the RedHawks slipped to 32.3 in  the second half. Wright State, meanwhile, went from 50 percent in the first . . . 

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Peter Suder gets off a pass. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . period to 61.5 percent from the floor in the second half. 

Miami head coach Travis Steele didn't like the RedHawks defense in either half.
"Our defense in the first half just set the tone -- in . . . the wrong way."

"Details matter on the defensive end. We were on it at App State (but) today we weren't," Steele added. 

The Raiders top two scorers, who both averaged 19.0 ppg., stayed hot -- and then some -- against Miami. Brandon Noel, a 6-8 redshirt junior posted an impressive double-double with 27 points and 16 rebounds. He also registered three blocks and three steals. Redshirt senior guard Alex Huibregtse poured in 26 points with six boards and three steals.
"They've got two horses (who are) all-league level players (and) they played like all-league level today."

Miami was led by Kam Craft, who scored 23 points. Eian Elmer also reached double figures with 12 points. Antwone Woolfolk topped Miami rebounding with 10 caroms and also contributed eight points.

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Luke Skaljac drives to the basket. (MVSmith/MRO)

Both offenses were on target early, but Miami owned a five-point lead (12-7)  less than four minutes into the game. 

Wright State took its first lead during a 10-0 run to establish its own five-point advantage (17-10). Both teams held small leads, and the visitors were up 40-35 before MU finished the period with a 10-2 run. Eiam Elmer's triple  with three ticks left gave the RedHawks a 45-42 advantage at the break.

Miami connected on 5-of-13 (38.46%) from beyond the arc in the first half. That would change after intermission as the RedHawks hit just 1-of-9 from long distance. That three came Elmer at 16:15, giving MU a 52-46 lead. 

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A triple by Huibregtse at the other end started an 11-2 Raiders run, moving WSU in front for good. Miami remained close for a while, and Woolfolk's layup at 6:57 left MU down 65-62. However, Wright State then went on its decisive 11-2 run to put the game away. 

In "the second half, we didn't shoot as well. That is where you've got to rely on your defense (but) our defense was still the same . . .  as it was in the first half. We've got to clean that up," Steele said, adding that he feels the team can be among the MAC's top three spots in both offense and defense."

Kam Craft drives the lane. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES:
According to Steele, there were some indications his team could stumble after opening 2024 with an impressive victory at App State.
"We had our worst practice of the year yesterday," he the the press in post-game comments. "I had a weird feeling (about Saturday's game).
>> The Raiders hit 61.5 percent from the field in the second half. That included 2-of-8 on threes, meaning WSU connected on 14-of-18 (77.7%) inside the arc. 
>> Wright State owned a 36-30 edge on points in the paint and had three more rebounds (37-34).
>> MU again played without 7-1 center Reece Potter. Steele indicated the sophomore should be back soon and "will give us a boost. He's been practicing. I would anticipate him playing the next game. We just want to make sure he is healthy (in the) long term . . .  We need him to be right for MAC play."
>> Jackson Kotecki drew four fouls (several early) and was limited to 10 minutes. Woolfolk eventually picked up four fouls but managed to log 28 minutes. 

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>> Craft (3-of-5) had three of MU's six made 3-pointers. 
>> Miami's bench contributed 14 points. WSU got 18 from its bench. 
>> The RedHawks committed 12 turnovers, while the Raiders had 14 miscues.