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Richburg comes up big for RedHawks
Sunday, January 11, 2009
OXFORD — Senior point guard Carl Richburg made the recent loss of another senior point guard, Kenny Hayes, a bit easier to swallow for the Miami University basketball team when he came up with several key plays during the RedHawks' 64-51 overtime victory over the Akron Zips.
The former standout for the Mason Comets helped send the game to overtime Saturday, Jan. 10, when he tied the score twice in the final two minutes of the second half, swishing a 3-point basket with 1:46 remaining and then driving his way for two points with 24 seconds on the clock.
"Richburg played really good and we needed that out of him," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "I think he needed that out of him."
"I think that will really help Carl's confidence," Miami senior Michael Bramos said. "He's had two pretty rough games. I think you'll see Carl continue to improve. Those were two of the biggest shots of the game right there."
Richburg also sank 5-of-5 free throws and had three assists and two steals.
Coles said he hopes the victory will give his team some confidence, especially since Hayes, Miami's second-leading scorer, could miss the rest of the season with an injured right wrist.
"Ever since Kenny went out we haven't had the confidence on offense," Coles pointed out, "but hey, Kenny ain't coming back."
Mavunga impresses
It wasn't so much that Miami freshman forward Julian Mavunga scored a career high in points (14) for the second straight game, but the way he dominated the overtime once Miami took a six-point lead two minutes into the extra period.
The 6-foot-8, 252-pound forward from Indianapolis blocked a shot by Brett McKnight with 2:40 left in overtime, then tipped in a basket at the 2:14 mark, then hit a layup with 1:30 remaining and did it again with 16 seconds on the clock.
"I think Mavunga was a big difference," Coles said. "He didn't do much when we threw him the ball, but boy, when the ball hit the rim."
Mavunga, who also tipped in a basket in the first half, went 5-for-8 from the field and also grabbed seven rebounds.
Tipoff time change
The starting time for Miami's game at Kent State next Saturday, Jan. 17 has been moved from 7 p.m. to noon. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net Ohio.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
