Sunday, December 02, 2001
Miami gets spark from freshman against Wright State
Horace's start pays off
By Ian Duthie
Enquirer contributor
OXFORD — Wright State freshman Malcom Andrews knows what fellow Miami freshman Danny Horace is capable of. Andrews and Horace started playing basketball together when they were 8 years old in Cincinnati. The duo then went on to start for four years on Western Hills' varsity team and lead the school as seniors to a 21-5 record.
“He is a warrior who determines games around the basket,” Andrews said.
With his team struggling on offense, coach Charlie Coles inserted Horace, a 6-foot-5 freshman, into the starting lineup for the first time Saturday. Horace had been one of the team's most productive players in its first three games, averaging 7.3 points and eight rebounds.
Horace proved his high school friend right, leading the RedHawks with a season-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in Miami's 67-61 victory.
“He killed us tonight,” Andrews said. “Danny was too much for us tonight. He was definitely the difference. Just like I remember him.”
More impressive to Coles than the points or the rebounds were the hustle plays Horace brought to the court. The freshman brought the fans to their feet with five blocked shots that rattled around Millett Hall and turned Coles from a coach into a fan.
“That was pretty impressive. Them blocked shots weren't just blocked shots. It was like, "OK, let's take three minutes to find the ball.' It's way up there in the second tier of the bleachers,” Coles said.
Horace also brought his excitement to the offensive end, following a Doug Davis miss with a two-handed dunk that shook the basket and tied the game 50-50 with 7:23 remaining. The dunk ignited the RedHawks, who built a six-point over the next three minutes after the putback.
“Danny brings a lot of energy to the team,” Miami's Juby Johnson said. “He plays hard. A big spark to everyone, the team and the fans.”
The Miami offense focused on getting the ball in deep against Wright State. Neither team has a player taller than 6-8. Horace, along with power forward Alex Shorts, helped the RedHawks score 28 points in the paint, something that had been almost non-existent in their first three games.
The contest remained was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than six and the lead changed hands 10 times. The Raiders stayed in the game by connecting on 11 3-point three-point field goals. In the end, Horace was too much.
“I knew they were going to double Alex (Shorts),” Horace said. “I just wanted to get to the rim, bring some intensity and get to the free throw line.”
Wright State 2833—61 Miami 2641—67
Attendance—3,860 . 3-point goals—WSU: 11-25 (C. Doliboa 4-6, Deister 4-10, Hope 0-1, Bills 2-5, Freeman 0-1, Andrews 0-1, S. Doliboa 1-1), MU 5-8 (Johnson 3-3, Shorts 0-1, Davis 1-2, Seals 1-2). Technical fouls—None. Officials—Bart Wegenke, Todd Williams, Kyle Ingram.
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