Recap: Miami Racks Up Seventh Straight Win, Defeat Kent State 70-61
By: Jack Mueller
All Photos Courtesy of: Megan Walker / Miami Athletics
The Miami RedHawks continued their special start to the conference season on the road, defeating Kent State 70-61 to win their seventh straight game. Despite a nine-point deficit at the break, Travis Steele’s team fought back to secure their fifth conference win of the season.
Four RedHawks reached the double-digit mark in scoring, led by Brant Byers’ 15 points off of the bench. The 6’8” freshman has boosted his points per game from 5.9 to 7.5 in his last three games. His impact off the bench, alongside Evan Ipsaro, Reece Potter, and Luke Skaljac (who returned to the lineup after missing the last two games), has been crucial in MAC play.
Eian Elmer did a little bit of everything for the RedHawks, scoring 14 points to go with two boards and two assists. The sophomore wing also got involved in a back-and-forth at the end of the first half with Jalen Sullinger, which resulted in both players being assessed technicals.
Mekhi Cooper was vital for the RedHawks in the second half. Nine of his 12 points came in the latter portion of the second half as he became the offensive focal point for Miami. Cooper scored in every way possible, connecting on two threes and some tough layups around the rim. He added five boards as well. 
Mekhi Cooper rises up for a jump shot (Photo: Megan Walker)
Antwone Woolfolk battled through foul trouble for the third straight game but came out victorious this time. The big man went 100% from the field, scoring 10 points and adding four rebounds. Peter Suder led the team in boards, becoming a “renaissance” man for the RedHawks. The transfer guard added nine boards and five assists, despite being limited to just eight points.
How it Happened
The RedHawks jumped out to a 7-2 lead after Antwone Woolfolk spun his way to the rim for an easy layup. The Flashes responded via VonCameron Davis, who took two defenders out of the game with a spin of his own to cut the lead to three. Eian Elmer and Cian Medley traded three-pointers to send the RedHawks to the first media timeout with a 10-7 lead.
Buckets by Davis and Jamal Sumlin brought Kent State back within two, but Brant Byers connected from way beyond the three to re-establish the two-possession lead. Cli’ron Hornbeak and Jalen Sullinger went on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to one, but another Miami three, this time from Reece Potter kept Steele’s team in the lead. That lead would not last long, as Hornbeak scored his eighth points of the game to tie it up at 20.
Elmer and Medley traded threes again to keep it tied before Davis took the lead for Kent State from the free-throw line. Elmer then got called for a (questionable) technical foul after pushing Sullinger after the whistle. Sullinger made both to allow the Flashes to extend their lead to three. Moments later, Elmer and Sullinger get tied up again and this time, Sullinger gets “T’d up” despite Elmer connecting with Sullinger’s face in the scrum.
After tempers calmed on both sides, Cian Medley and Gillespie converted on back-to-back-to-back layups, split up by a Byers three, to make it 36-32. Gillespie found the rim through traffic for his eighth points to extend the lead to six. Medley made that lead even larger, as Medley made his third three of the first half to make it 41-32.
Miami opened the second half with a 8-0 run. Elmer and Suder connected on mid-rangers, Craft made two free throws and Mekhi Cooper connected from three to swing momentum into the RedHawks’ favor. After Gillespie ended the run with a layup, a free throw from Woolfolk and a steal-and-score from Suder tied the game at 43. Elmer’s layup off a block by Suder gave Miami their first lead of the half, before Jalen Sullinger snatched it back with a three of his own.
The blocks didn’t stop there. Elmer got in on the party to set up an easy Woolfolk layup to give the RedHawks a 49-46 lead. After the Flashes cut the lead to one through Medley, Byers put together one of the best hustle possessions of the season. Kent State cut the lead to one, but a 5-0 run for Miami, bookended by a Luke Skaljac layup, sent the teams to the media timeout with Miami leading 56-50.
Eian Elmer made an impact on every aspect of the game (photo: Megan Walker)
Just minutes later, the RedHawks led by double-digits. Cooper and Byers connected on back-to-back threes, then Cooper got to the rim for two more to make it 64-54. Guess who would be the one to add to the lead? Cooper found the bottom of the bucket on a tough turnaround jumper to give Miami their largest lead of the day at 66-54 with two minutes left.
The Flashes were able to cut the lead to nine, but that would be as close as they get. Ipsaro and Cooper went 4/4 from the stripe to keep Kent State at bay. When the clock hit zero, the RedHawks left the floor as nine-point victors.
Up Next:
Bowling Green is next on the calendar for Miami. The Falcons are 2-3 in the MAC. and are coming off a 69-61 loss at home against Eastern Michigan, giving the Eagles their second MAC win of the season. Prior to that, they went 2-1 against their common opponents with Miami (Wins vs. Western Mich., Buffalo / Loss vs. Ball State).
The Falcons are led by Marcus Johnson, the 6’7” center who’s averaging 16.8 points per game so far this season. He represents a tough matchup for Woolfolk, who will be forced to cover his three point shot (39%) and his ability to get to the rim (52 FT’s, 86 FT%).
Central Michigan transfer Derrick Butler and junior guard Javontae Campbell will be the main perimeter threats for the Falcons. The pair of guards are combining for more than 28 points per game in 60 minutes of action. Miami’s Mekhi Cooper and Kam Craft will have to be sound defensively to limit their effectiveness.
The matchup between the two teams will take place at Millett Hall at 7 p.m., and will also be streamed on ESPN+.