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Sports Twittermen's basketball Miami 68, Central Michigan 64
RedHawks claw way to victory
Central Michigan led for most of game; Miami's Michael Bramos keys the victory with 32 points and five blocked shots.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
OXFORD — The Miami University basketball team had much to overcome Saturday afternoon.
The RedHawks had to overcome a Central Michigan team that led for 90 percent of the game. The uncanny shooting of Robbie Harman. Tim Pollitz on the bench. Tyler Dierkers in the locker room. Kenny Hayes sprawled on the court.
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But the RedHawks always seemed to have an answer, the biggest of which was Michael Bramos, whose 32 points and five blocked shots propelled Miami to a 68-64 victory early Saturday evening at Millett Hall.
It was the fifth straight win for the RedHawks
(12-10, 6-4 Mid-American Conference), but it was the first during the streak that came by fewer than 12 points.
"It's a credit to the other players for hanging in there," Bramos said. "It's big. I hope they keep their confidence up. It was good to see us in a close game and be able to pull it out in the end."
Bramos hit 9-of-16 field-goal attempts, including
3-of-6 from beyond the 3-point arc, and also was
11-of-12 from the foul line. He even had three steals while playing all 40 minutes.
"Bramos had a game tonight," Coles said. "I was a little worried about Mike. When Mike came back the second time, he wasn't the offensive threat I knew he could be."
Bramos has injured his left ankle twice this season. The first caused him to miss one game. The second injury sidelined him for three contests.
He returned at Northern Illinois and struggled, making only 1-of-9 shots. Then he scored 15 points at Ball State, but struggled again last Wednesday against Toledo, going 2-for-9 from the field.
"Last (Friday) night, I was thinking Mike was going to have a real good game for us today," Coles said.
The Chippewas (10-12, 5-5) took a 6-5 lead when Harman, a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, drilled a
3-point basket with 15:29 left in the first half, and they didn't give it up until Pollitz sank two free throws with 6:09 remaining in the game to put Miami back on top 58-57.
Harman had knocked Miami dizzy by hitting five more 3-point baskets, finishing 6-for-8 from beyond the arc for 18 points.
Also, Pollitz missed 15 minutes of the first half when he got into foul trouble. Dierkers missed five minutes of the first half when he was forced to leave the arena with the trainer. And Hayes missed six minutes in the second half after he got knocked to the floor.
All three players were on the court in the closing minutes, however. Hayes gave Miami the lead for good, 62-61, with a driving layup in traffic with 1:01 to go, and Hayes and Pollitz each sank two crucial free throws in the final 14 seconds.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
