MIAMI BASKETBALL

Potter scores career high as Miami dumps Sacred Heart

Evan Ipsaro takes a shot to the face while driving the lane. Keyishon Miller defends. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Sophomore center Reece Potter connected on all eight shots from the field -- including a trio of 3-point goals -- to score a game-high 19 points while leading the Miami RedHawks (7-4) past Sacred Heart (4-8, 1-1 MAAC) 94-76 Sunday at Millett Hall. 

"These are the types of games that always kind of scare you," Miami head coach Travis Steele said, noting players can sometimes lose basketball focus just before heading home for the holidays. "You want to (mentally) be where your feet are." he said.
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It was a bounce-back win for MU, which recently hit a school record 22 threes against Bethany before sinking just one in a loss at Vermont earlier this week.

Miami was back home -- and back on target -- Sunday, connecting on 17-of-35 triples (48.6%) from long distance and 53.0 percent from the field overall. 

Joining Potter in double figures . . . 

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. . . were Kam Craft (12), Eian Elmer (10) and Brant Byers (10). Luke Skaljac chipped in nine to lead seven  other RedHawks who combined for 51 points. 

Tanner Thomas topped the Pioneers with 15 points, followed by Griffin Barrouk (11) and Gallous Gueye (1).

Eian Elmore sprints down court with one of his four steals on the day. (MVSmith/MRO)

VISITORS TAKE EARLY LEAD
It was Sacred Heart who got off to a fast start, jumping out to an 11-3 advantage before Miami head coach Travis Steele called a time out.  "I probably let it go maybe a possession too long, but I wanted to see if our guys could fix the problem." During the time out, Steele made some schematic and tactical adjustments, but he also swapped out all five players. 

The Pioneers had knocked down down three straight triples while building up a 15-4 lead less than four minutes into the game. Miami, however, then began to find the range and outscored SHU 16-4 to take a 20-19 lead. 

"I thought our bench came in and changed the energy of the game -- just flew around and played hard," Steele said. 

REDHAWKS PULL AWAY
After a Sacred Heart trey, Skaljac hit a three to put the RedHawks in front for good. Connecting on 53.9 percent from the field and 57.8 percent on treys before intermission, MU took a 20-point lead (50-30) to the locker room when Skaljac got a steal and hit a running deep three to beat the first period buzzer. 

Miami's advantage reached 28 points (88-60) with 6:04 remaining in the game, but SHU chipped the margin down to 18 for a final of 94-76. 

"I was really frustrated with our (defense) in the last eight minutes," Steele said. "We were giving up uncontested threes. You can't (just) hope the guy is going to miss." 

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Luke Skaljac drives against Mekhi Conner. Skaljac finished with nine points, three rebounds and two steals. (MVSmith/MRO)

Dan Luers scores as Tanner Thomas' defends on the play. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES: 
>> Despite the last eight minutes, Steele told reporters afterward that he feels the team has improved overall since its November opener. "We're not (where we want to be) yet, but I like the progress we're making."
>> The RedHawks finish non-conference play Dec. 30 when they host Defiance (7 p.m.). They remain home for their MAC opener against Buffalo Saturday, Jan. 4. 
With most students out on break, Steele feels his squad can focus  solely on basketball and "make a huge jump as a team." 
>> In his post-game comments, Steele noted Potter had shown marked improvement before an injury shut him down in the spring. He has been working his way back, seeing action in nine games and averaging 12.7 mpg. The 18 minutes against Sacred Heart equaled his longest game participation this year. It was his first time in double figures this year, with the previous 2024-25 high being eight points. His freshman season highs were 17 points and 20 minutes. 
>> Miami had two more rebounds than SHU (37-35).
>> The RedHawks owned a 32-26 edge in points in the paint and had four more second chance points (18-14). 

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​>> The RedHawks recorded 17 turnovers. Steele said he expects a somewhat higher number against fast-paced teams like SHU, but still felt the number was too high. 
>> Elmore (4) and Peter Suder (3) accounted for half of Miami's 14 steals. 
>> The Pioneers are averaging 37.1 percent on threes this season but connected on 42.3 percent against Miami. Sacred Heart was successful on 39.7 percent overall.