MIAMI BASKETBALL

Strong first half sets up MU tourney win

RedHawks to face Mercer in Tuesday trophy game

Peter Suder gets into the lane. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
FORT MEYERS, FL -- Defense hasn't exactly been the strong point of Miami's men's basketball game team over the first couple weeks. That must change, head coach Travis Steele has said on several occasions. 

At least by what he saw Monday, the RedHawks are making progress. Miami (3-3) held Siena (2-3) to 21 first half points,  and MU went on to post a 70-58 victory Monday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. 

The Saints . . . 

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Antwone Woolfolk scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . connected on just 25.9 percent from the field before intermission. Five of their seven field goals were threes. Miami meanwhile, hit 12-of-29 (41.4%), including 6-of-18 on 3-point tries. 

The RedHawks never trailed and built up a 12-point (16-4) lead following and-one score by Peter Suder at 13:57.

Siena pulled within four (19-14) at 8:27 on a triple by Major Freeman, one of two Saints guards that Steele felt were keys. "We challenged our guys (to) keep (Freeman and Justice Shoats) in front and make them take tough, contested shots." 

Although they were two of Sienna's three double figure scorers, they shot 34.6 percent from the field while combining for 28 points. Brendan Coyle (12 points) was the only other Saints player in double figures.

With a triple by Kam Craft and a free throw by Reece Potter in the final 1:33, Miami managed to take a 32-21 lead to intermission. 

Siena shot better in the second half, connecting on 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from the field and 33.3 percent (4-of-12) on treys. That allowed them to pull within five points of MU on two occasions, the last of which was at 11:11 However, a layup by Brant Byers and triple by Craft quickly pushed the MU advantage to 10 points.

Miami's lead reached 13 points on a Peter Suder tip-in at 4:33. Sienna eventually went to a press and forced several turnovers that brought the Saints within seven (63-56) on a Shoats jumper at 1:44, but Miami scored seven of the game's last nine points. All seven came at the free throw line. 

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"We did have a couple turnovers (during the press). We've got to get rid of that," Steele said. "That should be a strength for us." 

Craft and Peter Suder led Miami with 18 points each. The latter hit 7-of-9 frm the field overall. Craft was 6-of-18, including 5-of-13 beyond the arc. Eian Elmore also reached double figures with 15 points over 22 minutes. 

Antwone Woolfolk finished with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds. "He's a bull," Steele said. "He's just so strong and physical. I love what he brings to our team."
Overall, Miami out-rebounded the Saints 37-27. 

NOTEBOOK
>> With the win, Miami advances to play the Mercer Bears, who defeated Jacksonville 90-89 (OT) in Game Two Monday. MU and the Bears square off for the Palms Division championship Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
>> Steele, who earned his 100th head coaching victory, said his team was enjoying the Florida experience, especially after southwest Ohio got its first snowfall last week. "They love it," Steele said. "We're not spending much time in the pool. We're spending more time on the films and in the gym." 
Monday's win, however, figured to add a little pool time, according to the coach. 

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Reece Potter chipped in six points in limited action. (MVSmith/MRO)

>> Reece Potter logged 13 minutes Monday, scoring six points and grabbing two rebounds. Noting Potter had surgery in the off-season, Steele said his goal for Potter is "to get him feeling back to normal by January." 
>> Although Xavier (Steele's former coaching post), is playing in the Beach Division of the tournament. Steele said he probably wouldn't be seeing the Musketeers. Not only was he planning on watching the next game (Mercer vs Jacksonville), he said there was also film to watch before final preparations for tomorrow's championship matchup. The Mercer-Jacksonville game start was then delayed by a collapsed basket support. Later, it went into overtime. 
>> Steele was happy with MU's offense against Siena's man-to-man defense. However, he said his team "has to be a little better" against zones. He noted  Miami "sputtered" a bit late in the first half and early in the second half against the Saint's zone.
>> Each team finished with 13 turnovers. However, Miami out-scored Siena 22-7 in points off turnovers. 

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