MIAMI BASKETBALL

RedHawks open conference play on winning note

MU now 12-0, but Ipsaro leaves game with injury

By MIKE SMITH
MUNCIE, IN  -- Junior forward Almar Atlason scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half to help Miami hold off Ball State 86-77 at Worthen Arena. It was the conference opener for both teams, and MU moved to 12-0 overall with the victory. Ball State fell to 3-9 on the campaign.
Joining Atlason in . . . 

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. . . double figures for MU wee Eian Elmer (20), Brant Byers (16) and Peter Suder (10). 

Elmore James topped BSU scorers with 20 points. Davion Hill tallied 13, while Devon Barnes and Kayden Fish chipped in 10 apiece. 

The hosting Cardinals held small leads through much of the first half. Byers, however, put MU in front (30-29) for good with a triple at 3:17. The RedHawks took a 40-36 lead to intermission. Byers (8) and Elmer (11) provided nearly half MU's points, hitting 5 of 6 from beyond the arc along the way. 

A 12-0 run to open the second half gave Miami a 13-point advantage with 16:43 to play. However, BSU would knock its deficit to just two points while MU failed to hit a field goal for over eight minutes. 

A James basket at 9:22 left Miami in front 60-58. That, however, was a close as Ball State would get. Atlason erupted for 18 of Miami's next 22 points as the RedHawks re-established double-digit lead (82-71) with 1:50 remaining and finished with a nine-point victory.

NOTES:
•  There were just under 10 minutes left in the contest when Miami point guard Evan Ipsaro went down with with an apparent leg injury. When Suder fouled out at 2:08, , the RedHawks were short-handed on a pair of the better ball-handlers. Fortunately, Suder's departure came late.
•   Miami wraps up non-conference play Monday when it returns home to face Milligan. It is a 1 p.m. tipoff!!!!!
•   When MU returns to MAC play, it faces two of the top contenders this year -- at Bowling Green Tuesday, Dec. 30 (7 p.m.) and home versus Akron Saturday, Jan. 3.(3:30 p.m.) 
•   The RedHawks connected on 21 of 22 free throws, while Ball State hit 14 of 18. 
•   The Cardinals recorded two more field goals overall (28-26), but MU hit six more treys and seven more free throws. 
•   Miami made 13 of 24 shots from beyond the arc. Ball State went 7 of 21. 
•   Ball State owned a 40-26 edge on points in the paint.
•   The RedHawks committed 14 turnovers, leading to 21 BSU points. Ball State had seven turnovers, with the RedHawks cashing in for 11 points.