Miami snaps four-game losing streak

RedHawks set themselves up for bye, now must wait for result of Akron-Kent St. game

Kenny Hayes (14) of Miami knocks down a three point baseline shot against Buffalo, on Thursday, March 4 Oxford. Contributed photo by Robert Leifheit

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 7:13 AM Friday, March 5, 2010

OXFORD — Miami University’s basketball team did what it had to do on Thursday night, March 4, scoring a convincing 73-62 victory over the Buffalo Bulls at Millett Hall.

RedHawks coach Charlie Coles is dubious about whether that will translate into a first-round bye to next week’s Mid-American Conference Tournament.

That all depends on the final MAC game of the regular season, when Kent State plays tonight at Akron.

It’s simple, really. If Kent State wins, Miami gets the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye. If Akron wins, the RedHawks return to Millett Hall on Sunday, March 7 and play Toledo in the MAC Tournament’s first round.

“I’m going to plan on playing Toledo, because that’s what’s going to happen if Kent State doesn’t win,” said Coles, noting that it’s very difficult for anyone to win at Akron. “If we go to Cleveland with a bye, no harm.”

The Miami coach said, “It will be a battle if we play Toledo,” noting that the RedHawks struggled against the Rockets at home on Feb. 10 before finally winning 55-47.

It wasn’t as much of a struggled on Thursday as senior guard Kenny Hayes, playing what might or might not be his final home game, scored six of his 17 points during a 12-0 run by the RedHawks which put them in control midway through the second half.

“We had to (win),” said Hayes, who went 7-of-11 from the field. “We need some momentum going into the tournament whether we get a bye or not.”

The win snapped a four-game MAC losing streak for the RedHawks, who opened their conference season with a 73-55 loss at Buffalo.

“They tagged us pretty good up at Buffalo,” Hayes said.

Miami sophomore forward Julian Mavunga also scored 17 points for the RedHawks, who improved to 13-17 overall, 9-7 in the MAC.

Buffalo, which also stands 9-7 in the MAC, 17-11 overall, was led by Mitchell Watt with 17 points and five blocked shots. Watt had 11 points in only 11 minutes of playing time in the first half as Miami took a 33-29 lead at the break.

“We didn’t do a good job guarding him, no doubt about it,” Mavunga said, “but as the game went on we adjusted. (Nick) Winbush had five blocks and I had three. We did a good job of getting into position in the post.”

The RedHawks were out-rebounded 40-30, but they shot 50 percent from the field, only the fifth time in 29 games this season Miami has reached the 50 percent mark.

Next game

Scenario 1 (if Akron beats Kent State tonight): Toledo Rockets (4-27, 1-15 Mid-American Conference) at Miami RedHawks (13-17, 9-7 MAC) in the first round of the MAC Tournament at Millett Hall, Oxford, Sunday, March 4, time TBA.
Scenario 2 (if Kent State beats Akron tonight): Miami, as the No. 4 seed, would receive a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament and play an opponent to be determined in the quarterfinals at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, on Thursday, March 11, time TBA.

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