Miami is 11-13 ( 5-8) and in 8th place ( top 8 make the MAC tournament). Ohio has their best record in school history after 25 games. OU is 21-4 (12-2) and tied for first with Toledo, who gave OU both their losses. Ohio is #83 in NET, Toledo is #69, Miami is #250. Ohio has beaten Miami 5 straight times and has not lost to Miami at home for 10 years. Ohio dominated Miami in Oxford earlier this year.
Ohio is led by sophomore guard Mark Sears 20ppg/5.3rb/ 4 assists. He is shooting very well, 43% on threes and 90% on free throws. Jason Carter played two years at Ohio, then 2 years at Xavier, now he is back at Ohio for his final season. He is a 6-8 Sr averaging 14/6.5 Ben VanderPlas is a 6-7 Jr averaging 13.3/6.7.
Miami welcomed back Dalonte Brown and James Beck from the injured list Saturday and it made a big difference as we drilled BG. Dae Dae Grant joined Dalonte Brown and Mekhi Lairy as 1,000 point career scorers. Lairy has one more year of eligibility, Grant has two. Dalonte is now 9th in both career scoring and career rebounds. As a team, Miami is 8th in the nation in free throw % and 12th as a team in fewest turnover per game.
We go to Northern Illinois Saturday in a game matching teams battling for the 8th place spot which gets you to Cleveland for the MAC tournament.
Just read on the MAC board that Ben VanderPlas is out with an ankle injury plus Jason Carter has some health issues. We have Brown and Beck back, so that could make tonight’s game very interesting.
Vander Plas is playing, Carter is not. 15 - 10 Miami early, OU going to the line for 3. Precious with 2 fouls in the first 3 minutes brings Eli in early and he just ran into BVP shooting a 3. Dae Dae has 8.
24-16 Miami at the 12 and under TO. We are 5 for 8 on threes and White and Grant are off to great starts. Playing with Beck and Eli inside the last 4 minutes.