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OXFORD — Miami University's Doug Penno figured he and his teammates owed the Ohio University Bobcats some payback.

"OU's a very big rival and I've always really looked forward to it. I've always had a strong dislike for them," Penno said. "Probably because they've knocked us out of the (Mid-American Conference) Tournament the last two years."

Penno answered those two knock-outs with some haymakers of his own Sunday afternoon as the RedHawks edged the Bobcats 72-69 in overtime before a snow storm-thinned crowd of 2,185 at Millett Hall.

Penno drilled four 3-point baskets, including one late in the second half and two more in overtime as Miami won its second straight and raised its record to 7-10 overall, 3-2 in the MAC.

Two years ago Miami won the MAC regular-season championship but was upset in the MAC Tournament semifinals by Ohio 63-56 and the RedHawks had to settle for a berth to the NIT. Last season the Bobcats eliminated the RedHawks in the MAC quarterfinals 73-58.

Miami coach Charlie Coles didn't mention anything about revenge, but he did note that "OU's given me two of the biggest basketball disappointments in my life."

The first happened in 1964, Coles said, when he was a guard at Miami.

"We lost to Ohio 63-60 at Withrow Court — I remember everything about that game — and it prevented us from going to the NCAA. Two years ago was the other," Coles said, referring to the 63-56 MAC semifinal loss. "I think if we win one more game that year, I don't see how they can keep us out of the (NCAA) Tournament."

Penno pounces

Neither team scored for the first minute and a half of overtime, but then a baseline jumper by Bramos put the RedHawks on top and 3-pointers by Penno with 1:47 and 0:17 left made sure they stayed there. Penno finished with 12 points off the bench, going 4-for-7 from the arc, and he also had four rebounds,

three assists and a steal.

Coles said he had bad news for Penno in the preseason.

"I told Doug early in the year before we even started, 'Look, we've got a problem here. We've got Bramos, and he's a kid I'd like to play an awful lot. We've got (Nathan) Peavy, we've got Pollitz and you're not a point guard.' I didn't even tell him he was going to play a lot," Coles said.

"And I didn't tell him anything else ... But I think he's figured out by now that he's our best passer, he's a leader, and I don't know of anyone more important on our basketball team."

Streaky first half

The first half of Sunday's game consisted of runs by both teams, starting with an 8-0 run by Miami, followed by a 9-0 run by Ohio, a 16-0 run by Miami (including 10 points from Michael Bramos) and a 10-0 run by Ohio.

Miami led by as many as 11 points in the second half, but the Bobcats rallied to take a 63-61 lead with 2:10 remaining following back-to-back 3-point baskets by Bubba Walther and Sonny Troutman.

A putback by Miami's Tim Pollitz with 1:26 left tied the game, which went to overtime after Walther missed a 22-footer in the closing seconds and a halfcourt heave by Pollitz at the buzzer skimmed off the rim.

Bramos comes up big

Bramos finished with a game-high 22 points despite going cold from the 3-point arc in the second half (1-for-8), and he also led the RedHawks with four

assists and five steals. "I didn't feel I was missing bad," Bramos said. "They were going in and out most of the time. I just kept my confidence up and luckily I came back to hit the winning shot."

Pollitz scored 18 points for Miami, connecting on 8-of-11 shots, and Nathan Peavy grabbed 10 rebounds.

Bobcat blues

Ohio (12-6, 3-2 MAC) suffered its second straight overtime loss despite having all five starters score in double figures.

Troutman and Whitney Davis each scored 14 points, Jerome Tillman had 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, Leon Williams totaled 12 points and 10

rebounds, and Walther finished with 12 points.

Looking ahead

Miami will seek its third straight victory and first on the road this season Wednesday night at Central Michigan.

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