DaytonDailyNews.com

NATCHITOCHES, La. — Eric Pollitz didn't intend to be a scoring machine Tuesday night, Dec. 30.

"I just stayed within the system and took what they gave me," said Pollitz, who scored a career-high 16 points as Miami defeated the Northwestern State Demons 69-68.

Rodney Haddix also scored a career-high 16 points as the RedHawks (7-4) placed four scorers in double figures, also including Michael Bramos (13) and Tyler Dierkers (10).

That was very good news for coach Charlie Coles and his RedHawks, who had just learned a day earlier that their second-leading scorer, senior point guard Kenny Hayes (Northmont), would be out indefinitely with a wrist injury.

"Without Kenny Hayes, we're going to have to have contributions from a lot of different players," Coles said.

He got those contributions against Northwestern State (8-6), which had not lost at home this year.

Miami trailed by as many as 12 points late in the first half, but surged ahead with a 16-2 run early in the second half.

Devin White led the Demons with 15 points.

Miami will return to action 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dayton.