The University of Miami RedHawks are still atop the Mid-American Conference, but now they are in the lead by one-half game after playing in Anderson Arena
The RedHawks had been playing their best basketball all year, having won four in a row.
The Falcons, however, cut Miami’s lead at the top of the conference. With an 11-5 conference record and 13-12 record for the season, the RedHawks now find themselves battling for first place with Kent State.
Early in the first half against the Falcons, it looked as though Miami would extend it’s winning streak and remain at the top of the MAC. The RedHawks were sticking to their strengths.
Their 35 second half court offense slowed the game down considerably, forcing Bowling Green to play Miami style basketball. Their defense also held the Falcons in check, allowing them to score only 17 points in the first half.
This slow paced, highly defensive and sometimes boring offense is exactly what coach Charley Coles wants. The RedHawks pride themselves on defense and their ability to find open shots. Coles’ emphasis on defense and ability to slow down a game has the team ranked third nationally in scoring defense.
One of Miami’s leading scorers and rebounder, Danny Horace, has missed the last two games. Horace, who swung at a Buffalo player on Feb. 22, was suspended two games for fighting. The suspension definitely hurt Miami on Saturday, who was outrebounded by the Falcons.
Chet Mason took on the role of scorer on Saturday, with Horace’s absence. Mason scored 14 points, five above his season average.
Having coached in the MAC conference for 12 years, Coles may know more than anybody about how tough this conference can be. Coles believes this is the most wide open the conference has ever been, and knows how important every win and loss can be.
“This time of year you can’t dwell on a victory or a loss,” said Coles, whose team still has to face Ohio and Marshall before the conference tournament. “We may not win another game, and we may not lose another game.”
The RedHawks should be happy they don’t have to travel back to Bowling Green for the rest of the season. The Falcons have won the last eight regular season meetings between the schools and also the last six games they played at Anderson Arena.
The win over Miami was big for the Falcons. The RedHawks, who have played teams such as Maryland, Purdue, Xavier, Cincinnati and Dayton, are at the top of the conference for a reason.
With Horace fresh off his suspension and a third ranked scoring defense in the league, the RedHawks could be a real threat down the stretch and into the conference tournament.
