March 1, 2008

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OXFORD, Ohio--Junior forward Michael Bramos scored Miami's first nine points and led all players with 31 points as Miami University's men's basketball team defeated Ohio University on Saturday night, 73-49.

The RedHawks moved to 14-13 overall and tied Ohio (18-10) for third place in the in the Mid-American Conference East Division standings at 8-6.

Michael Allen hit a 3-pointer at 16:43 to put the Bobcats within one, 8-7, but the RedHawks forged a 23-4 run to build a 20-point first-half lead by the 4:52 mark off a pair of junior center Tyler Dierkers free throws, 31-11. Miami had six different players contribute to the 23 points during the run with Bramos knocking down two of his five 3-pointers for the night.

A Bramos jumper with 50 seconds remaining in the half extended the Miami lead to 23 points, 37-14, which would be the score it would carry into the half.

Miami continued to extend its advantage, building 29-point leads off a pair of junior guard Kenny Hayes free throws at 16:58, 45-16, and off a Hayes layup at 14:52, 47-18.

Ohio went on an 11-2 run late in the game, to close within 16 points with 2:15 remaining, 63-47, but Miami went on a 10-2 spurt to close out the game en route to the 73-49 win.

Associate head coach Jermaine Henderson filled in for head coach Charlie Coles, who was under the weather.

In addition to his 31 points--his fourth 30-point scoring effort of the season and the eighth time in 2007-08 he has eclipsed 20 points--Bramos added two blocked shots and three steals. Hayes added 12 points, his 14th straight double-figure scoring effort, while senior forward Tim Pollitz added 10 points, three assists and a career-high-tying four steals. Dierkers and junior guard Eric Pollitz each amassed nine rebounds, which was a career-high mark for Eric Pollitz.

Leon Williams paced the Bobcats with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Bert Whittington IV chipped in 11 points.

Miami hits the road for a 7 p.m. game at Kent State on Tuesday, March 4. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

Notes: Miami men's basketball welcomed back more than 50 former players, managers and alumni during the game as part of their Alumni Day festivities ... of Eric Pollitz's career-high nine rebounds, seven came in the first half, which tied his previous career high ... when playing in Oxford, Miami has won five straight games in the series with the Bobcats ... the 49 points matched Ohio's lowest scoring output of the season ... the Bobcats had their lowest field goal percentage of the season (.246), which also was the lowest field goal percentage by a Miami opponent this season.