MIAMI BASKETBALL

RedHawks hit record 76.1 percent in 13th straight win

Brant Byers slips a pass through two defenders. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
​OXFORD OH -- Freshman Trey Perry scored a game-high 24 points and the RedHawks shot 76.1 percent from the field as Miami (13-0, 1-0 MAC) cruised past Milligan 135-81 Monday afternoon at Millett Hall.

It was the RedHawks 13th win in as many outings.  Milligan counted the game as an exhibition.
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Two big . . . 

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Trey Perry scored a game-high 24 points. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . Mid-American Conference matchups loom for Miami, which faces Bowling Green on the road Dec. 30 and hosts Akron Jan. 3. Unfortunately for MU, starting point guard and second-leading scorer Evan Ipsaro won't be available for those -- or any remaining RedHawk contests. He tore his ACL in second-half action Saturday at Ball State.

(It was) "very, very unfortunate," Miami Head Coach Travis Steele said. "He gives his heart and soul to our program. He's an extremely hard worker. That's why he's gotten so much better. .. He's about everything that we're about.

Steele continued "When it happened, it was a gut-punch. It didn't feel like we won at Ball State. . . . It was kind of a somber feeling in the locker room afterwards. But that's a natural human emotion. It means you care . . . but then you have to pick yourself up off the mat. . . .  It was good for us to play a game in between these MAC games without Evan -- just to get acclimated,

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Antwone Woolfolk shakes off a defender while driving to the hoop. (MVSmith/MRO)

The junior took it to another level in the offseason and was off to arguably his best start as a RedHawk. Evan was one of our best playmakers, on ball defenders and scorers," Steele observed. 

Still, he noted, "We've got plenty of ball handlers on our team to be able to figure this thing out. . . . Luke (Skaljac) has played a lot of two here, but he can play the one easily. Peter (Suder) handles the ball really well and can make decisions. (With) Trey Perry, I told him at the beginning of the year, by the time January rolls around, you can't play like a freshman any more. . . . By the time we get into league play, you've got to be a sophomore. It's the same thing Luke Skaljac did last year for us.

​NEW HIGH
After playing six scoreless minutes at Ball State, Perry dished out nine assists and recorded a season-high 24 points in 21 minutes against Milligan. He connected on 10 of 12 from the field overall, 3 of 4 trey attempts and one free throw. 

Suder, meanwhile, scored 17 points while hitting 6 of 7 from the field, all three treys and one free throw. 

Luke Skaljac recorded eight assists to go with eight points. (MVSmith/MRO)

Joining the duo in double figures for Miami were Brant Byers (17), center Tyler Robbins (17),  Almar Atlason (16), and Eian Elmer (13). 

EARLY SUCCESS
The RedHawks grabbed a quick lead and reached a double figure advantage (17-5) on Byer's triple at 14:39. 

A 16-2 Miami run followed, giving the hosts a commanding 26-point edge. Skaljac's triple at 1:30 put MU up by 34, and the RedHawks led 66-35 at intermission. 

Miami's bench, which contributed 74 points on the night, continued the onslaught, and the RedHawks led by as many as 57 in the second half before finishing with a 54-point victory. 

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Almar Atlason puts up a shot in the lane during second half action. The junior transfer scored 16 points against Milligan after a 26-point performance in Miami's MAC opener at Ball State Saturday. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES: 
•   Te'Jon McDaniel McCormick led the Buffaloes with 23 points. 
•    135 points are the second most all-time by a Miami program.
•    The Red and White shot 51-of-67 (76.1%) from the field, the best shooting percentage in program history.
•    This is the seventh consecutive game that Miami has shot over 50% from the field.
•    The RedHawks went 20-of-30 (66.7%) from behind the arc (fourth time this season Miami has shot over 50% from beyond the arc).
•    20 threes made are the third most in RedHawk history.
•    Miami recorded 58 points in the paint in comparison to just 20 from the Buffaloes.
•    32 assists are the second most ever recorded for the Red and White.
After four road games over two weeks, Steele said it was good go be back at Millett Hall. "I felt like I was living out of my suitcase. It was good to be back home, especially right before the holidays.Now our guys get an opportunity to go home for four days and (then) we'll get ... ready for Bowling Green.

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Trey Perry breaks away for a fast break layup. Miami had a 21-4 advantage in fast break points. (MVSmith/MRO)