‘Energy guy’ lifts Miami to victory

Ballard gets RedHawks in gear with his performance in 61-51 MAC victory over Eastern Michigan.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 10:29 PM Saturday, January 30, 2010

OXFORD — It seemed every time the Eastern Michigan basketball team was one pass, one step, one heartbeat away from sailing past Miami University, the Eagles found their path blocked by Antonio Ballard.

The 6-foot-4 junior had 11 points and six rebounds, all when they were needed most by the RedHawks in their 61-51 victory Saturday afternoon, Jan. 30, at Millett Hall.

For instance, there was Ballard soaring out of nowhere to grab an offensive rebound and then hitting two free throws after EMU had scored 10 straight points and Miami had watched its 17-point halftime lead shaved to one.

And there was Ballard, scoring on a putback with 2:05 remaining to stop a 5-0 burst by the Eagles.

“Antonio Ballard, is he amazing?” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “How many times was there that he came up with a hustle play to get us going?

“Big time!” Coles said of Ballard’s late putback. “Now we’re three possessions ahead. That was the biggest play of the game.”

Miami senior Adam Fletcher, who totaled nine points and six rebounds, agreed.

“Antonio’s our energy guy,” Fletcher said. “That rebound with 2 minutes to go, when he put that back in that kind of sealed the deal for us.”

Miami (8-13, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) led 31-14 at halftime.

The Eagles were floundering, but their leaky rowboat turned into an atomic submarine in the second half, and with 8:27 remaining they had scored 31 more points and trailed Miami 46-45.

“I don’t think we lost control,” Fletcher said. “It was just a matter of regaining what we’d lost, the energy on offense.”

“I give Eastern credit,” Coles said. “I really thought they had the game won when they were down by 14 points and after a timeout they sprinted out onto the floor and my team walked out.”

Ballard’s rebound and ensuing free throws with 7:43 remaining, however, sparked a 10-1 run for the RedHawks, who have won six straight at home.

Justin Dobbins led EMU (10-10, 2-5 MAC) with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Nick Winbush scored 11 points off the bench for Miami, and Julian Mavunga blocked three shots, including a jam job that nearly punched a hole in the floor.

Coles was honored before the game for breaking the record for career MAC wins by a coach. He was presented with the game ball from Miami’s 79-67 win over Ohio on Jan. 16 which gave Coles his record-setting 195th victory.

The ball was presented by former Toledo coach Bob Nichols, who held the previous record and is a good friend of the Miami coach.