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SPOKANE, Wash. — Monty St. Clair, Doug Penno and Nathan Peavy watched their Miami University basketball careers come to an end Friday at Spokane Arena.

The RedHawks' only three seniors, all products of the Greater Catholic League, dealt with mixed emotions after MU lost to Oregon 58-56 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional.

"I walk away feeling like I was part of something special," St. Clair said. "We've been tough as nails coming down the stretch this season. I knew there was no chance in hell that we were going to lay down without a fight."

Peavy scored nine points to finish with a career total of 1,081, good for 28th on Miami's all-time scoring list.

"It's bittersweet knowing that I won't be able to be with my teammates anymore," Peavy said. "I'm going to truly miss all my teammates and the program and everybody that was involved with us."

Penno, whose banked-in trey in the Mid-American Conference Tournament title game sent the RedHawks to Spokane, said he's proud of Miami's 18-15 record this season.

"I feel like we got a lot done and took a big step toward getting this program where it needs to be," Penno said. "It wasn't a fluke that we made it here. It's just a natural progression, and it really sets the bar for years to come. Miami should have a great team next year."

Playing the 'D'

Miami completed the season as the only Division I squad that didn't allow 70 points in a game. Oregon's

58-point output Friday was its fourth-lowest offensive total of the year.

"I don't think many people thought we'd even keep it close," RedHawks guard Michael Bramos said. "We showed we're a legit defensive team."

Winning is fun

The Ducks played at a much slower pace than they like against Miami and nearly lost, but that doesn't mean Oregon didn't have fun.

"Of course we prefer to get up and down and be able to run and gun and share the ball and drive and kick," Ducks forward Bryce Taylor said. "But they slowed it down, and the most important thing for us — and I think I'm speaking for everybody — is you just get fun out of getting a win. We're just excited to be playing in another one."

Miami numbers

• Tim Pollitz made more than 70 percent of his field-goal attempts for the eighth time this season by going 8-of-11.

• Nathan Peavy played all 40 minutes for the fifth time this year.

• Michael Bramos totaled three blocks, falling one short of his career-best effort in that category.

Quotable

Miami coach Charlie Coles on Pollitz: "I think people don't know how to guard him very well because they don't know how to get him. He's got kind of a big butt, and he reminds me of two players who played in the past. Not as good, but he reminds me of Adrian Dantley and Mark Aguirre. Two guys that were undersized, but could post 6-8 guys."

Oregon coach Ernie Kent on his team's slow start: "The jitters I noticed right off the bat, just because they were kind of reacting slow, more slow than what we did last week. The matchup zone gave us a lot of energy. It gave us an opportunity to make them miss. It gave us an opportunity to get in transition where we're at our best, and I thought we calmed down and started playing a lot better."

Contact this reporter at (513) ) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.