DaytonDailyNews.com

CLEVELAND — Doug Penno is getting used to his Miami University teammates piling on his back.

Penno, whose 3-pointer just before the buzzer gave the RedHawks a 53-52 victory over Akron in the Mid-American Conference title game Saturday night, also nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Miami a 62-59 victory over Western Michigan on Feb. 3 at Millett Hall.

A crowd of 10,045 at Quicken Loans Arena watched Penno drill 3-of-5 shots from the 3-point arc in Saturday's contest, which certainly had the wildest finish of any basketball game in Miami history.

A very unhappy coach

Not surprisingly, Akron coach Keith Dambrot was not thrilled with that finish.

"It's unfortunate," Dambrot said. "It was a lucky shot by Penno. It banked in. It was a lucky shot. I told our guys life's unfair."

What really disturbed Dambrot is the notion that the timer and officials might have gotten the call wrong, that there should have been no time left when Penno launched his shot, and also that "nobody has lobbied for us to be in the NCAA Tournament with 26 wins.

We've lost seven games by 21 points, but you haven't heard (expletive) about us."

Miami coach Charlie Coles later did his best to change that.

"It's been a long time since we've been to the NCAA Tournament," he said. "But after I got through being happy, I felt very bad for Akron. What a phenomenal team. Twenty six victories. How can you have 26 victories and not be having your name being mentioned every day for an at-large (bid). My heart goes out to them."

Who, when and where

The Miami players and coaches will gather at the Gross Center, located behind Millett Hall, at 5:30 p.m. today to watch the NCAA Selection Show. The public is invited.

Miami's comeback

Akron led 31-21 with 16:25 remaining in the second half when Miami's comeback began with a 3-pointer by Penno.

But it was slow going. Every Miami basket or free throw seemed to be answered by an Akron basket or free throw. With 6:28 on the clock the RedHawks still trailed 47-40.

Then a Tim Pollitz basket began an 8-1 Miami run which included a monumental 3-point basket by Nathan Peavy at 3:02 and a fastbreak lay-up by Pollitz which tied the game at 2:21.

Jeremiah Woods put the Zips back on top with an inside basket with 1:49 on the clock, Pollitz tied it again with a drive to the hoop at

1:22, and Romeo Travis gave Akron its final lead with two free throws with 30.8 seconds left.

Travis and Wood made the all-tournament team, as did Central Michigan's Giordan Watson.

This and that

Miami was out-rebounded 35-23 ... Although Peavy missed his first six shots, he did finish with seven points, six rebounds, five blocks and two assists ... Eric Pollitz came off the bench to go

2-for-2 from the field for four points ... After committing 20 turnovers against Toledo in the semifinals, Miami had only five against Akron.