Saturday, December 29, 2001
Miami seeking revenge vs. UD
By Ian Duthie
Enquirer contributor
Today's game between Miami and Dayton is one the RedHawks have been anticipating since last season's 55-54 loss to the Flyers, when an eight-point lead slipped away at home.
The RedHawks had the game in hand, leading 52-44 with just less than four minutes remaining, when everything fell apart. Miami's offense went cold, scoring only two points the rest of the game. The Flyers offense, fueled by Tony Stanley's three straight 3-pointers, caught fire to pull out the emotional victory.
Now, Miami is looking for redemption as the teams meet today for the 120th time.
Stanley has graduated, but head coach Charlie Coles knows how talented Dayton (7-3) is. The Flyers won 21 games and made the NIT quarterfinals last season.
“They are always tough at home,” Coles said. “Their crowd really gets into it and it's hard to get comfortable. We have to be ready to give our best effort.”
Dayton, winner of four straight, features Ramod Marshall and Brooks Hall. Marshall leads the Flyers with 14.0 points a game. He's expected to play despite suffering a turned ankle in his team's last game. Hall, picked to the preseason all-Atlantic 10 team, was held to five points last season.
The Flyers have lost to Cincinnati (11-1), Marquette (10-1) and Villanova (6-2).
Miami returns to action after a 1-3 West Coast stretch against three teams that were ranked or receiving votes. MU beat then-No.10 Boston College in the first round of the Hawaii Rainbow Classic but dropped close games to Georgia (64-59) and Iona (57-51). Miami also lost at Southern Cal 59-55.
Miami will need a big game from Alex Shorts, who averaged 20 points in Hawaii, to win today.
The RedHawks will need its big man to continue his hot streak if they want to defeat Dayton.
The RedHawks' (3-7) last five losses have been by a combined 20 points. Coles' knows the caliber of teams his team has faced and hopes it has prepared his young team for a difficult conference schedule that begins after the RedHawks game in Dayton when they play at Western Michigan on January 2.
“The (Mid-American Conference) is maybe as tough as it has ever been from top to bottom,” Coles said. “We just hope that our non-conference schedule has prepared us to be ready to play every night.”
Alex Shorts played some of his most consistent ball in Hawaii averaging 20 points over the three games and Miami will need its big man to continue his hot streak if they want to defeat Dayton.
For the RedHawks the Dayton game marks the fourth road game true road gameswith Miami yet to win as the visitor and Dayton has yet to lose in six home contests. Dayton's three losses have come to quality opponents in Cincinnati (11-1), Marquette (10-1) and Villanova (6-2).
Sports Stories
It's showtime for Bearcats
Tepid Akron faces hot UC
Steelers back on track; Bengals stuck in rut
Bengals avoid TV blackout
Bengals notebook
Vikes' QB duties fall to Wynn
Baseball notebook
Loveland stops visiting Lebanon
Mom wins fight for Friday night girls' basketball
West thwarts Fairfield rally
Ohio boys basketball
Ohio girls basketball
Kentucky boys basketball
Kentucky girls basketball
Miami seeking revenge vs. UD
