Senior guard Will Sullivan, who paced Miami with 14 points, sank four free throws down the stretch to clinch the win as the RedHawks improved to 7-12 overall, 2-4 in the Mid-American Conference.
Junior guard Eric Washington added 12 points for Miami and a game-best six assists and freshman forward Logan McLane chipped in career highs of 11 points and seven rebounds.
The teams went back and forth in the second half until Miami staged a 7-0 flurry, with two free throws apiece from Washington and Chris Bryant and a 3-pointer from Sullivan, to seize a 48-43 lead with 6:12 to play. NIU came back to tie 54-54 off a long Anthony Johnson jumper with 2:08 to go.
After Miami pulled ahead 0n a Washington layup at 1:44, 56-54, NIU hit one of two free-throw attempts with 33 seconds left to close within one. After a pair of missed Miami free throws with 32 seconds left, NIU had a chance to go ahead but missed on a 3-point attempt with 22 seconds remaining. Sullivan then secured the victory from the line.
The RedHawks conclude a two-game road stretch when they travel to Toledo for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday on ESPN3.
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