​MIAMI BASKETBALL

Second half shooting surge lifts RedHawks over Falcons

By MIKE SMITH
BOWLING GREEN, OH -- Miami Head Coach Travis Steele has been talking about how teams respond to adversity. 
Based on both the stat sheet and -- more importantly -- the scoreboard, Steele should like how is team responded Tuesday night. Down by three at intermission, the RedHawks hit 58.3 percent from the field and 71.4 percent on threes in the second half to pull out a 66-58 victory over Bowling Green at the Stroh Center. 

With just three regular season games remaining, the . . . 

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 . . . upset win was particularly valuable for a team that has struggled on the road. Several other teams pulled off Tuesday upsets as the battle to finish among the league's top eight (and qualify for the post season tournament) reaches increased urgency. The RedHawks are now 8-7 (14-14 overall) and tied with Bowling Green (8-7 MAC, 17-11 overall) for fifth place. 

STREAK
It was Miami's first back-to-back wins since MU knocked off Akron and Kent State in late January. Bowling Green, meanwhile, came crashing back to earth after bumping off archrival Toledo last Friday. 

HUNTER LEADS THE WAY
Senior Darweshi Hunter led Miami and tied for game-high honors with 20 points. He hit three of five 3-point attempts and seven of eight free throws. Bradley Dean tallied 15 points and Anderson Mirambeaux finished with 11 after scoring just two before intermission. 

Forward Rashaun Agee led Bowling Green with 20 points and 14 rebounds, giving him his 14th double-double of the year. No other Falcon reached double figures as BGSU shot just 32.4 percent from the field and 21.1 percent beyond the arc. 

BOARD WORK
Miami's margin of victory might have been greater were not for Agee and the Falcon's success on the boards. Bowling Green outrebounded MU 44-36 overall and a whopping 20-4 on offensive caroms. Fourteen of the those came in the first half, helping BGSU overcome its shooting struggles (26.3%). Contributing to that number was seven shot blocks by Miami defenders.

Bowling Green jumped out to a 7-0 advantage and led most of the first half. However, Miami twice held brief leads and was otherwise able to stay relatively close. The Falcons were in front 28-25 at the break.

​RALLY TIME
The two teams swapped leads until MU finally moved in front for good during a 15-0 run. Mirambeaux scored eight straight points and Dean knocked down four during a rally that gave MU a 46-34 lead. 

Working the ball down low to Agee, Bowling Green battled back, and a triple by DaJion Humphrey moved the hosts within two, 60-58, with 133 remaining. However, the Falcons could not score again and Miami put the game away with five free throws.