DaytonDailyNews.com

ATHENS — At halftime of the Ohio University men's basketball team's 72-63 victory over Miami, the Bobcats probably were wondering which Pollitz was which.

Miami's Tim Pollitz came into the game averaging 16.1 points a game. In the first half, he took two shots, made one and scored two points.

Twin brother Eric Pollitz came into the game averaging 4.2 points a game. In the first half, he took four shots, made them all and had nine points.

Eric took only one more shot in the second half, however, and missed it. He finished with nine points and six rebounds in 35 minutes of playing time after making his fifth straight start at guard.

"Eric's got to finish the deal," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "I told him in the locker room, 'Eric, good job in the first half. But if you could put a second half with that ...' "

A fan gets too close

As Coles was about to leave the court after the game, a young male fan — unidentified by the media but possibly an Ohio University student — placed his hands on Coles while trying to put some sort of tie around his neck.

"He said, 'Wear this next time,' " Coles said.

"It really wasn't any big thing," Coles said. "I wanted to make sure (the fan's approach) was done in a good way. I can handle that. I won't remember it at all. I'll remember Leon."

Ohio's Leon Williams burned Miami with 18 points and eight rebounds.

University security took the fan's action seriously enough to escort the young man to an inside hallway to discuss the situation.

Chart climbing on hold

Coles is having a heck of a time chalking up the victory that would mark two milestones.

For the fourth straight game, Coles was unable to record the 200th win of his Miami career. And he remains one win away from his 176th Mid-American Conference victory, which would tie him for second place on the all-time list with former Ohio coach Jim Snyder.

They'd prefer wins

Heading into Saturday's contest, Miami was ranked by CBSSportsline.com fourth in the nation in strength of schedule and, despite its record, 35th in the Rating Percentage Index.

Of the 34 teams ahead of the RedHawks in the RPI, the worst record belonged to Arizona at 9-5.

Finally, a home game

Miami will return to Oxford and play its first home game in nearly a month when Kent State comes to Millett Hall on Thursday night.

The RedHawks have not played at home since Dec. 18 when they defeated Chicago State 74-68.

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