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Dierkers does it for MU
Low-scoring center breaks out with great shooting game as RedHawks win big.
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Wednesday, December 05, 2007
OXFORD — Tyler Dierkers has been one of those basketball players who excels at doing the little things. You know, setting screens, boxing out, not doing anything stupid.
On Tuesday night, Miami University's 6-foot-8 junior center showed he could do the big thing as well.
Extras
He could score.
In fact, Dierkers did it all for the RedHawks, scoring a career-high 14 points and also coming up with four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots as Miami pulled away from the Indiana State Sycamores for a 74-58 victory at Millett Hall.
"It was a lot of Tim Pollitz drawing double teams," said Dierkers, who went 5-for-5 from the field and 4-for-5 from the foul line. "It's pretty easy when you're shooting layups."
He acknowledged that Michael Bramos and Pollitz have done most of the scoring for the RedHawks.
"Someone on our team is going to have to step up," Dierkers said. "Michael and Tim have been carrying the load. I definitely feel I can do a lot more, point-wise."
It was the first time Dierkers had reached double figures in scoring. His previous high had been eight points against Oakland almost a year ago.
Miami head coach Charlie Coles said he has seen Dierkers and Pollitz working together on offense, especially when Pollitz gets double-teamed.
"Tyler's a great passer, a smart player and a very unselfish player, and so is Tim," Coles said. "I like some of the things they're doing on offense."
Dierkers was one of four RedHawks to score in double figures.
Bramos led the RedHawks with 17 points, including 11 in a row during a second-half outburst which sealed the win for the RedHawks (4-3).
Junior guard Carl Richburg scored a career-high 13 points off the bench for the RedHawks and Pollitz pitched in with 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Indiana State (3-4) was led by Gabriel Moore with 17 points, including 9-of-9 free throws.
The Sycamores led early 14-4, but Miami took control with a 22-2 run and led at halftime 34-24.
Indiana State crept to within six, 48-42, with 8:58 left in the second half, but Bramos scored the next 11 points.
The RedHawks shot the ball extremely well, hitting 55 percent from the floor and 88 percent from the foul line.
Miami is off for the next 10 days and will return to action Dec. 15 at Wright State.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
