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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 5:20 PM Saturday, February 27, 2010

OXFORD — The way things are going, Miami University basketball coach Charlie Coles might have enough material at the end of this season to produce his own Top 10 list on “Late Show with David Letterman.”

A list of games that makes Coles wonder why he didn’t enter a less nerve-racking line of work, like juggling lighted sticks of dynamite.

Miami’s list of last-minute losses alone will make Coles pray for a kinder, gentler finish tonight, Feb. 27, when the RedHawks take on Kent State.

“We’ve had five of those, and if you count the ones we won, we’ve had seven of them,” Coles said.

In chronological order, Miami’s top thrillers (so far):

• Dec. 10, Kenny Hayes drills a 3-pointer with 8 seconds remaining to tie Kentucky. With five-tenths of a second left John Wall hits a jumper and Miami’s hopes of a major upset are dashed 72-70.

• Dec. 13, Hayes scores on a layup with 22 seconds left to give the RedHawks a 56-55 win over Wright State.

• Dec. 23, Miami storms back from a 17-point deficit at Xavier, but loses 70-67 when Hayes is unable to connect on a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left.

• Jan. 26, Miami loses 65-59 in double overtime at Ball State after Hayes misses a 3-pointer at the end of regulation and Nick Winbush misses a 3-pointer at the end of the first overtime.

• Feb. 4, Hayes buries an outside jumper with eight-tenths of a second remaining to give the RedHawks a 56-54 victory at Western Michigan.

• Feb. 14, Hayes misses a shot from near halfcourt at Bowling Green in a 67-64 loss.

• Feb. 24, Hayes drives for a basket with 8 seconds left to give Miami a one-point lead at Ohio, but the RedHawks lose 70-68 when Tommy Freeman nails a 3-pointer with six-tenths of a second remaining.

That list doesn’t even include Miami’s 55-53 overtime win over Kent State on Jan. 12, in which Rodney Haddix blocked a shot in the final seconds of regulation.

Coles said the team is playing at a high level despite the recent losses.

“The thing we don’t want to do is go backwards,” he added. “Let’s hang in there. ... Our guys like to play. That’s the thing that keeps us alive. They realize we’re not far away, that we can beat any team in the league if we play good.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

Today’s game

Who: Miami (12-16, 8-6 MAC) at Kent State (21-8, 11-3)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: M.A.C. Center (6,327), Kent

Radio: WMOH-AM (1450), WPFB-FM (105.9)

Series: Miami leads 84-41

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