Rollins gets big shots to fall

After early struggles from 3, MU guard settles down, scores 18 points.

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Updated 4:05 PM Wednesday, February 22, 2012

By Rick Cassano

Staff Writer

OXFORD — Quinten Rollins admittedly looked pretty bad shooting 3-pointers early in the game Tuesday night.

So the Miami University sophomore guard showed a preference for shooting on hard drives to the basket the rest of the way, and it paid off handsomely.

Rollins equaled his career-high scoring total with 18 points, helping the RedHawks men’s basketball team edge Kent State 62-60 at Millett Hall.

“I can get to the hole when my mind is determined, but when I take my time and I step in with confidence, I can knock down the three,” Rollins said.

He did nail a trey in the second half to finish 1-of-3 behind the arc. Overall, Rollins was 8-of-15 from the field while adding five rebounds, six assists and three steals. The Wilmington native noted that his season got off to a slow start because of an injury.

“I feel like I’m in a great rhythm now,” Rollins said. “My confidence is high, and I’m just being more aggressive. I’ve got a determined mind now. That’s probably the (biggest) difference.”

Of toppling the Golden Flashes, he added, “It’s time to finish something now. It’s too late in the season not to. We ain’t got no more excuses.”

Miami coach Charlie Coles liked Rollins’ offensive production, but said his judgment still needs improvement.

Coles pointed to senior forward Julian Mavunga as the key to the win. Mavunga hit the game-winning free throws with 3.8 seconds left, totaling 17 points and eight boards.

“I would say Julian Mavunga carried the day,” Coles said. “He hasn’t played like that in three, four weeks. I thought his judgment was good. He wasn’t playing out of character.”

Respecting Miami

Kent State coach Rob Senderoff praised Miami’s scrappiness in what has been a difficult season.

“Nobody’s underestimating them,” Senderoff said. “Everybody knows that Charlie Coles is the best coach in this league. If our kids underestimated them, that’s on us. I don’t think we did though.

“They made a couple more plays than we did,” he added. “We turned it over too many times (14), which is uncharacteristic for our team.”

Heading for N.Y.

Miami will be back in action Saturday afternoon at Buffalo. The RedHawks won the first meeting 52-51 on Jan. 14.

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