MIAMI BASKETBALL

RedHawks secure tournament spot with win over EMU

By MIKE SMITH
YPSILANTI, MI -- The league's leading scorer was out and the way both teams shot, it was almost surprising ANY players reached double figures. That said, Anderson Mirambeaux managed 11 points and Darweshi Hunter tallied 10 to lead Miami  (9-7 MAC, 15-14 overall) past Eastern Michigan (5-11 MAC, 12-17 overall) 52-37 Saturday at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. 

With its third straight victory and fourth win in five games, MU secured a spot in the upcoming Mid-American Conference tournament. Miami currently sits in fifth place among an eight-team field. Home tilts with Toledo (Tuesday) and Ohio (Friday) remain. Those teams are second and third, respectively, in the current standings. 

Eastern Michigan, which is . . . 

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. . . now eliminated from 2024 MAC tourney participation, had been showing signs of improvement lately. The Eagles won three of the previous four games before hosting Miami Saturday. However, Tyson Acuff (the MAC's leading scorer -- 21.7 ppg) was injured in Tuesday's 70-67 win over Western Michigan. 

Even with Acuff, the Eagles ranked last among MAC teams in scoring offense, averaging 66.3 ppg on the season and 65.1 ppg in MAC play -- both last in the league. The loss of Acuff certainly didn't help, and EMU totaled just 37 points. 

Junior forward Jalin Billingsley led the Eagles with his first career double-double -- 13 points and 10 rebounds. Orlando Lovejoy chipped in eight points. 

On a day when neither team shot well, Eastern Michigan added to its troubles with 17 turnovers (including 13 steals). Miami owned a 16-2 advantage in points off turnovers. 

Although Miami connected on a mundane 36.8 percent overall, its 21 field goals were five more than EMU's 16 of 50 (32%) performance. Things weren't much different beyond the arc as the RedHawks hit 5 of 24 (20.8%). Eastern Michigan made 3 of 19 (15.8%). Free throws, meanwhile, weren't much of a factor given the teams combined to shoot just nine charity tosses. Miami made 5 of 6; EMU hit 2 of 3. 

Eastern Michigan's only lead of the night was 2-0 on Arne Osojnik's layup to start the contest. Miami, however, quickly seized the lead with a Mirambeaux and-one at the other end MU, and that kicked off a 15-2 RedHawks run. Mirambeaux, Bryson Bultman and Evan Ipsaro contributed five points apiece in the rally.

Eastern Michigan pulled within three (20-17) with 4:34 left in the half, but Reece Potter's dunk at 1:55 was the only subsequent score before intermission. Miami led at the break 22-17.

The RedHawks quickly extended their advantage when play resumed, going on a 13-2 run before an Eagles time out. 

Miami's largest lead was 18 points (44-26) with 9:00 remaining, and it finished with a 15-point victory.