MIAMI BASKETBALL

Perry beats buzzer as short-handed MU rallies for win

​By MIKE SMITH
KALAMAZOO, MI -- On a night when near everything seemed to be going wrong, it was freshman Trey Perry who made sure one important thing was right for his RedHawks -- the final score.
Perry's drive and layup under heavy defensive pressure in the closing seconds gave No. 21 Miami a 69-67 win over Western Michigan Friday at University Arena. 

With their victory, the RedHawks moved to 29-0 on the season and 16-0 in MAC play with one week left in the regular season. WMU fell to 10-19 overall (4-12 MAC). 

Miami, one of . . . 

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. . . the nation's top shooting teams, once again struggled at times in several offensive categories. The RedHawks made just 9 of 25 (36%) from the field and 2 of 8 (25%) outside the arc before intermission. They were also out-rebounded 22-13. The result was Miami scoring just 26 points and Western Michigan taking a 30-26 lead to halftime. 

One of the contributing factors to MU's issues was the absence of  Luke Skaljac. The sophomore took over point guard duties after Evan Ipsaro was lost for the season. However, a lower arm injury kept Skaljac out of Friday's matchup against WMU. That led to Perry -- a freshman -- getting the start. He responded with 14 points, three assists and a pair of steals.

Perry's presence became even more critical when Peter Suder got in second half foul trouble. He picked up his fourth foul at 10:55 and left for a couple minutes before returning at 8:45. That return, however, proved relatively brief as officials hit the senior with a fifth and final foul during a drive at 7:03. 

When Cason Vis scored on a layup at the other end, WMU led 59-50 with 6:38 to play. With their win streak on the line, the RedHawks needed points, and a pair of juniors led the critical rally. Almar Atlason -- Miami's only transfer -- scored nine points and Eian Elmer added four in a 14-4 run that pulled MU within one, 63-62. 

After a Bronco bucket, Elmer and Antwone Woolfolk hit back-to-back shots to give Miami its first lead of the second period. When Elmer hit one of two free throws with 28 seconds left, the 'Hawks led 67-65. 

Western Michigan missed its first shot at the other end, but the rebound bounced away from a pair of RedHawks. Justice Williams then got loose on the inbounds play and quickly knocked down a 15-foot jumper to tie the game. 

Twelve seconds remained. After a Miami time out, Perry took  his defender down the left side of the lane and banked in a left-handed layup that briefly hung on the rim before falling. 

After confirming the shot beat the buzzer, officials put .4 seconds back on the clock. A desperation shot off WMU's inbound was off the mark. 

Suder led Miami with 18 points, followed by Atlason (16), Perry (14) and Eian Elmer (10).

Jayden Brewer topped all scorers, recording 19 points. EJ Ryans and Justice Williams added 14 apiece for WMU. 

​NOTES:
•   Miami helped its cause by improving to 59.2 percent (16/27) from the field in the second half. 
•   MU once again struggled from deep, connecting on just four of 15 treys. Atlason hit three of the four, including a four-point play during Miami's late rally. 
•  Atlason was the only player off MU's shortened bench to score. 
•  WMU out-rebounded the RedHawks 39-28. They also had a 10-4 edge in second chance points. 
•  Miami Head Coach Travis Steele drew a technical foul before leaving the floor at intermission. 
•  Freshman Justin Kirby did not score but grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. 
•  Brewer registered a double-double for WMU (11 rebounds, 19 points).
•  Both teams made four 3-point goals and 15 free throws. The RedHawks had one more field goal (25-24).