MIAMI BASKETBALL

MU handles rivalry challenge; win streak reaches 25

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH  -- Brant Byers and Peter Suder combined for 41 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 23 Miami over arch-rival Ohio 90-74 Friday at Millett Hall. 
​
The nation's last undefeated Division I team put five players in double figures while moving its record to 25-0 (12-0 MAC). Joining Byers (21 points, 6 rebounds) and Suder (20 points, 6 rebounds) were Eian Elmer (15 points), Luke Skaljac (12 points) and Almar Atlason (11 points, 6 rebounds).

Ohio, which fell to 13-13 (7-6 MAC). was led by Jackson Paveletzke (22 points). Javan Simmons added 12 points.

Playing before . . . 

---

Brant Byers is fould during Miami's 90-74 win over Ohio. Byers got 13 of his 21 points at the free throw line. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . another sell-out crowd of over 10,000, as well as a national television audience on ESPN, both teams shot well early, However, Miami moved in front for good on a Skaljac layup with 15:37 remaining in the first half. Ohio stayed close, but the RedHawks eventually expanded their lead to 11 before taking an eight point advantage (43-35) the break. 

Miami connected on 50.0 percent (16 of 32) from the field, while Ohio hit 14 of 27 (51.9%) before intermission. The RedHawks also made one more three and three more free throws. 

A pair of Byers free throws at 19:36 on the second stanza pushed MU's advantage to 10 points and the RedHawks maintained a double digit lead through the final horn. Miami's biggest lead was 20 points on three different occasions. 

​

---

Ohio Governor Mike Dewine and wife Fran were part of Friday's sellout crowd. They met and married while students at Miami. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES:
•  Miami's next game is at UMass Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN+). MU squeaked by the Minutemen 86-84 Jan. 27.  Ohio hosts Ball State Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN+).
•  Friday's attendance matched the Millett Hall record of 10,640, set back on Jan. 31, versus NIU.
​•  Among those on hand for Friday's rivalry game was Ohio governor Mike DeWine. 
•   Byers went 13 of 16 at the line while scoring a team-high 21 points. Suder did most of his damage from the field, hitting 8 of 12 shots. 
•  Miami head coach Travis Steele noted Antwone Woolfolk was coming off an injury. However, the senior played 21 minutes, scoring five points and grabbing five rebounds. He also was called for three first half fouls, but finished with three. 
•  Eian Elmer played 25 minutes while working through some foul trouble of his own. However, he finished with four fouls.  Ohio's JJ Kelly was the only player to foul out. 
•  Paveletzke connected on 1 of 16 from the field and 7 of 8 free throws. In hit post-game comments, Steele acknowleged Paveletzke, who averages 16.6 ppg,, did some damage, "but it took him 16 shots to get his 22.) 
•  Miami made 9 of 18 threes on the night. Ohio hit 5 of 21 outside the arc. 
•  The RedHawks knocked down 21 of 28 free throws (75%). Ohio was good on 13 of 20 (65%).
•  Atlason reached double figures for the second straight game after going a month without reaching double figures. ​

---