Thursday, January 11, 2001
Miami 73, Central Michigan 61
RedHawks make 8 of 11 3s in first half
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OXFORD - You had to figure the shots were going to fall for Miami University eventually. Eventually was Wednesday night.
The RedHawks came out smoking and rode the hot hand to a big early lead they never gave up on the way to a 73-61 victory over Central Michigan at Millett Hall.
Miami came into the game shooting 25.7 percent from 3-point range - that was last in the Mid-American Conference and 312th in the nation. The RedHawks were 8-of-11 (72 percent) in the first half Wednesday.
“Our 3-point shooting has been horrendous,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “I think that's because we haven't been getting the 3-point shot in our offense.”
Miami hit 51.3 percent from the field for the game — it was the first time the RedHawks have been above 50 percent all year.
“It's a simple thing,” Jason Grunkemeyer said. “But we've shot the ball pretty well early the last two games. That got us going. You get some confidence and go from there.”
Grunkemeyer and freshman Juby Johnson led Miami with 16 points each. Doug Davis added 12, and freshman Eugene Seals had 11.
All Johnson's points came in the first half; all of Seals' came in the second half. Johnson's 16 were a career high. He has averaged 10.2 points the last five games. Seals was one point short of a career high.
“People are starting to see their talent coming through,” Coles said.
“Eugene and me are starting to get a little more comfortable with the system,” said Johnson, who also had four assists.
For Miami to be good, Johnson and Seals are going to have to be good. Coles is working toward that.
“When they're nice to me, I'm mean to them,” Coles said. “I'm mean to them all the time. When Eugene made a great play tonight, I said, "Quit showboating and make the next free throw.' I've been tough on them — with love.”
Miami improves to 6-8 overall and 2-1 in the MAC. CMU falls to 7-4 and 1-1. Coles is 5-1 against CMU, the school he coached for six years.
Miami ended its four-game losing streak with back-to-back quality wins. Miami beat MAC favorite Marshall 71-54 Saturday.
“To tell you the truth, it's surprised me how easily we've won,” Grunkemeyer said. “We were struggling. The UNC-Wilmington game (the last of four straight losses) was one of worst games I've ever been a part of.”
For the second straight game, Miami came out and seized control in the first half, opening a 26-13 lead with 6:29 to go.
“It was enjoyable to watch,” Coles said. “Not because we won, but because we played well. People forget. Coaches don't only coach. They have to watch. We've been painful to watch at times.”
CENTRAL MICH (61)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Pleiness 30 2-8 2-2 1-3 3 1 6
Brigitha 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Webber 33 8-14 3-6 0-4 1 1 25
Johnson 15 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 2 0
Kisner 17 1-2 1-2 0-0 2 4 4
Wallace 12 1-2 0-0 0-0 3 2 2
Borovich 27 0-1 0-0 0-3 1 3 0
Meerman 9 0-1 2-2 0-1 1 2 2
Manciel 16 4-4 2-5 1-1 1 2 12
Kaman 28 3-5 2-4 1-5 1 3 8
Schrotenboer 10 1-2 0-2 1-1 0 2 2
_______________________________________________
TOTALS 200 20-39 12-23 5-20 14 22 61
_______________________________________________
Percentages: FG-.513, FT-.522. 3-Point Goals:
9-15, .600 (Webber 6-8, Kisner 1-2, Borovich 0-1,
Meerman 0-1, Manciel 2-2, Schrotenboer 0-1). Team
rebounds: 4. Blocked shots: 2 (Kaman 2).
Turnovers: 15 (Kaman 4, Borovich 2, Johnson 2,
Kisner 2, Pleiness 2, Manciel, Meerman, Webber).
Steals: 5 (Borovich 2, Wallace 2, Pleiness).
MIAMI (73)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Johnson 30 5-8 2-3 0-1 4 3 16
Shorts 29 3-7 2-2 1-7 1 3 8
Allendorf 24 1-2 0-0 2-3 1 3 2
Grunkemeyer 35 5-9 4-5 2-3 3 1 16
Davis 21 3-6 4-4 0-4 0 4 12
Jameson 15 1-1 2-2 0-0 2 4 4
Drake 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Williams 1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 0
Helmers 2 0-0 1-2 0-0 0 0 1
Seals 13 4-8 2-4 2-4 0 1 11
Reed 2 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
Edwards 5 1-2 0-0 0-1 0 0 2
Ensminger 21 0-2 1-2 2-4 1 3 1
_______________________________________________
TOTALS 200 23-46 18-24 9-28 12 25 73
_______________________________________________
Percentages: FG-.500, FT-.750. 3-Point Goals:
9-16, .563 (Johnson 4-4, Grunkemeyer 2-5, Davis
2-4, Williams 0-1, Seals 1-2). Team rebounds: 1.
Blocked shots: None. Turnovers: 11 (Allendorf 2,
Grunkemeyer 2, Jameson 2, Davis, Ensminger,
Johnson, Shorts, Williams). Steals: 8 (Jameson 2,
Johnson 2, Shorts 2, Davis, Grunkemeyer).
__________________________________
Central Mich 26 35 - 61
Miami 40 33 - 73
__________________________________
Technical fouls: None. A: 3,069. Officials: Jd
Collins, Steven Skiles, Sam Lickliter.
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Miami 73, Central Michigan 61