MIAMI UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL
'Hawks set to get back on winning track today
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
OXFORD — — Still smarting from a buzzer-beating loss on the road to Wright State University, the Miami RedHawks would like to forget about the last 20 minutes of basketball and "build on the positives" as they prepare to entertain Chicago State tonight at Millett Hall.
"If you were in Fairborn for Saturday's game, you saw a tale of two halves," Miami assistant coach Ryan Pedon said. "You saw the good side and what this team can be in the first half. Then you saw the down side and how we've still got a long ways to go, in the second."
Extras
Miami hit a season-high 73.9 percent of its shots in the first half on its way to a convincing 44-28 lead over the Raiders. Guards Eric Pollitz (eight points, six rebounds), Isiah Carson (eight points) and Kenny Hayes (seven rebounds) each tied or set new career highs.
But Miami scored a season-low 13 points in the second half, and the team's leading scorer, Michael Bramos, went down with an ankle sprain.
Pedon says Chicago State coach Benjy Taylor's Cougars could be one of the more offensively aggressive teams Miami will face. Guards David Holston and John Cantrell average a combined 40.5 points per game, the sixth best total among scoring duos in the country.
"They're dangerous, one-on-one players who like to push the ball offensively, and they like to get in the passing lanes to grab steals on defense," Pedon said.
And Miami might not be at full strength tonight.
Pedon said X-rays on Bramos' right ankle were negative, but it's still a game-day decision as to whether he'll play. He's averaged 19 points per game this season.
Center Tyler Dierkers sat out Saturday's game at Wright State and is still recovering from pneumonia, but participated in Monday's morning practice.
Today's game
Who: Miami RedHawks (4-4) vs. Chicago State Cougars (4-9)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Millett Hall (Capacity 6,400), Oxford
Radio: WMOH-AM (1450), WFTK-FM (96.5), WONE-AM (980)


