Recap: Miami Defeats EMU 81-75, Advances to MAC Semi-Final

By: Jack Mueller 

Photos Courtesy of: Miami Athletics

The Miami RedHawks won their first MAC Tournament game in five years, defeating Eastern Michigan 81-75 at Rocket Arena. Travis Steele’s side exploded for 52 second-half points to secure their 24th victory of the season. 

A four minute stretch between the seven and three-minute marks was the difference. Miami rattled off a 17-4 run, led by two triples from sophomore guard Kam Craft and two dunks from freshman Reece Potter. The two teams were separated by just one possession for the preceding 14 minutes of the second half.  

Those dunks were four of Potter’s 15 of the night, providing a huge spark off the bench alongside Evan Ipsaro’s 14. Steele said all season that his squad is the deepest in the conference, and it proved pivotal. The RedHawks’ subs outscored EMU’s 35-8. 

“Strength in numbers…we pride ourselves on that.” “We know when we come in we need to provide that juice.” said Potter. 

While speaking to the media after Miami’s last regular season game, Steele predicted the future. 

“In three games, odds are you’re going to have a bad shooting night in one of them,” he said. 

Little did he know that it would happen in the first 20 minutes of the RedHawks’ tournament run. Steele’s team shot just 33% in that time, which would have been their second-worst mark of the season over a full game. 

“We over dribbled in the first half after the first couple minutes of the game.” said Steele. “We called more set plays, played more of a five-out in the second half and had a lot of success with that…our execution in the second half was really clean.”

In that period, Miami increased their shooting percentage by 20 points, knocking down 53% of their shots and 50% of their three-pointers. 

“We’re one of the best shooting teams in the country.” said Craft, who led the RedHawks with 24 points. “Water always finds its level.”

A big reason for the jump was Peter Suder, who recorded ten assists and rebounds after missing the majority of the regular season finale due to injury. While Miami’s leading scorer (13.3 PPG) wasn’t as efficient as he has been all season (1-10 FG), Steele called his captain a “warrior” for playing through pain after missing practice all week.

Nearly all of Eastern Michigan’s offense (82%) was provided by three players. Guards Christian Henry and Jalen Terry put up 24 and 21 respectively, with both connecting on five threes. Dae’Sean Nelson added 17 and 7 rebounds, but only managed a 29% shooting percentage. 

“I voted him (Nelson) First-Team All-League.” said Steele. “We tried to frustrate him and I think we did a good job of that.”

How it Happened

The RedHawks jumped out to a 9-0 lead after forcing four straight EMU misses. Five points from Craft, including a three, and four from Woolfolk got the scoring started for Miami. Henry broke the drought for the Eagles, nailing a three to cut the lead to six. Craft and Terry traded threes, and EMU’s Jalen Billingsley pounced on a Miami turnover to make it 12-8. 

Potter was rewarded for pulling down three offensive rebounds in one possession with a putback layup, but Terry and Henry tied the game with back-to-back threes. Four straight points from Evan Ipsaro and an Eian Elmer three made it 21-16 halfway through the period. Terry responded for the Eagles, sinking his third three of the night to cut the lead to two. 

Luke Skaljac connected from beyond the arc, but Terry hit his fourth and fifth three of the night to add onto a Billingsley layup, making it 27-24 Eagles. Byers responded with a three to tie it, and Ipsaro snatched the lead after Reece Potter found him with a smooth bounce pass in the paint. The teams went into the break even at 29 after Woolfolk was called for a goaltend under the basket. 

Dae’Sean Nelson started the second half by putting EMU up two with a turnaround layup. The lead flipped back and forth between the teams, as a Mekhi Cooper three and Craft layup were cancelled out by four straight Christian Henry points. Another three from Craft was cancelled out by Arne Osojnik, but Reece Potter stepped out beyond the arc and hit a triple of his own to make it 41-38 RedHawks. 

Back-to-back EMU layups tied the game back up at 42, but another Ipsaro layup through contact, and the resulting free throw, restored the narrow RedHawk lead. Billingsley and Henry combined for five straight points, but Potter tied it back up with a hook shot from the low block. 

Christian Henry’s scoring masterclass continued, as he connected on two straight jumpers, one from behind the arc, making it 54-51 Eagles. Woolfolk was then called for three fouls on one possession, allowing Nelson to make it a three-point game. 

Craft’s fourth three tied the game, then Miami then rattled off a 10-2 run, led by a Craft three and Potter dunk. That stint gave them a 69-61 lead with under five minutes to play, their largest of the game.  The run continued after EMU was forced into a timeout, as Craft connected on his sixth three of the game, followed by another Potter dunk, making it 74-61. 

With both teams in the double bonus with 150 seconds to play, the game slowed down to near a snail's pace. EMU cut the lead to seven after four free throws and a goaltending call on Elmer. Ipsaro added two from the charity stripe before an out-of-bounds call drew another video review, stopping play again. 

Henry made the remaining seconds count, drilling his fifth three of the game to cut the lead to six. EMU was forced to foul, allowing Suder to extend Miami’s lead to 78-70. Jalen Terry converted a layup, and Eian Elmer could only get one to fall from the line, giving EMU a chance to get within four. Henry couldn’t connect, and Suder’s free throw kept the difference at eight. Osojnik missed on the next possession, which let Potter extend the lead to nine. Nelson’s three cut it to 81-75, but Miami held the ball for the final seconds to leave the court as victors. 

Up Next:

“We didn’t come here to just win one game.” Steele said, adding an homage to the late Kobe Bryant.

 “Job’s not finished”

The RedHawks will face the winner of Kent State/Western Michigan on Friday at approximately 7:30 p.m. with a place in the MAC Championship, and a possible NCAA Tournament berth on the line.