MIAMI BASKETBALL

Miami fights off 'foul bug' to nip Flashes

Move above .500 for first time in 2023-24

By MIKE SMITH
KENT, OH -- After leading Kent State by 15 at intermission, Miami fought off a second half Flashes rally to register a 71-67 victory Tuesday at the M.A.C. Center. 

Kent State (10-11, 3-6 MAC) did shoot somewhat better in the second half, improving from 22.2 percent from the field before intermission to 38.7 percent in the final stanza. But the Flashes also capitalized on a flurry of whistles, sinking 16 of 23 second half free throws after hitting a more pedestrian six of seven before the break. 

Miami  owned 11-point leads on several occasions during the second half, but a pair of Giovanni Santiago treys pulled the Flashes with five (54-49) with 7:23 left. 

Beginning at 5:04, Miami was . . .

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. . . whistled for nine fouls, and although the Flashes made just three more field goals down the stretch, KSU connected on 13 free throws. That allowed the hosts to pull within three with 30 seconds remaining. 

After Miami's Bryson Bultman hit two from the stripe , KSU's Reggie Bass drained three free throws to leave the visiting RedHawks clinging to a 67-65 lead with 14 seconds left. 

Darweshi Hunter drew a quick foul and hit two free tosses for MU, but VonCameron Davis tipped in two points on a put-back with four seconds remaining. 

MU got the ball to Hunter once again, and he knocked down both charity tosses for the final 71-67 margin.

In posting its first victory at Kent State since 2014, the  RedHawks also posted back-to-back MAC wins for the first time this season. MU defeated league-leading Akron Saturday.

Miami (11-10, 5-4 MAC) also raised both its overall and MAC records above .500. It's the first time this season MU has been above .500 in either category. Kent State fell for the third time in its last four games and sixth in the last eight outings. 

Hunter, who played 36 minutes, led the RedHawks with 20 points. He was 5 of 10 from the field overall, 2 of 6 on treys and 8 of 8 on free throws. Bryce Bultman scored 12 points, while Eian Elmer added 10 points. Jaquel Morris led MU on the boards with 10 rebounds. 

Kent State, which did not score on a two-point field goal in the first half, was led by Jalen Sullinger's 16 points. Joining him in double figures were Giovani Santiago (12), Davis (10) and Reggie Bass (10). 

NOTES:
-- KSU finished with a 36-32 edge in rebounds and owned an 18-5 advantage in second chance points. However, Miami recorded 36 points in the paint to 18 by Kent State. 
-- Also Kent State had a big advantage in free throws, hitting 22 of 30 (73.3%), MU helped itself on the opportunities it did get. Miami made 16 of 19 tosses (84.2%). Hunter led the way, sinking all eight of his tries. 
-- Miami cooled down after intermission, registering nine field goals (1 trey) after sinking 16 in the first half (4 treys).
-- Mekhi Cooper fouled out following two quick fouls at 4:00 and 3:44 o fthe second half. Elmer and Mirambeaux finished with four fouls. 
-- Guard Bradley Dean returned to action for the first time since Jan. 2 in Miami's MAC opener against Western Michigan. He logged 16 minutes and scored five points.