OXFORD — Though only a freshman making his first trip to play at Millett Hall as a college player, Darryl Peterson will have a familiar face staring back at him when Akron takes on Miami at 3p.m. today. Peterson, a 2001 graduate of Western Hills High, returns to the Queen City area to reunite with fellow 2001 West Hi alum Danny Horace of Miami.

        “Ever since we signed in high school, we have been looking forward to this game,” Horace said. “We are very similar in size and our game.”

        With both players standing 6 feet 5 and weighing 220 pounds, they can expect today's game to be just like old times, when the four-year varsity players would battle in practice. As seniors, the duo led the Mustangs to a 21-5 record and a spot in the regional final. Both players averaged double-doubles for coach Lannis Timmons.

        “We knew that Danny was going to be one of those impact freshman,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said, adding, “It was easy to see he wasn't the only player on that team.”

        Now freshmen in college, the Cincinnati kids are quickly making the transition to the rugged college game. Both have solidified spots in their teams' respective starting lineups and are two of the top freshmen in the Mid-American Conference.

        Peterson is regarded as the better long-range shooter, while Horace does more of his damage around the basket with slam dunks and blocked shots.

        It didn't take others long to see the promise Coles witnessed when Horace burst onto the college scene with 11 points and 14 rebounds — both team highs — in the first game of the season.

        What caught Coles' eye was the way Horace attacked the glass, collecting 10 offensive rebounds and giving the RedHawks a true offensive rebounder, even though he is often shorter than his opponents. He has led Miami in rebounds in 10 games, with 54 coming at the offensive end.

        Horace doesn't lack confidence, stating in the media guide that he is the best athlete he has ever faced. He averages 7.1 points a game, 7.6 rebounds and leads the team with 19 blocks.

        Peterson has been a pleasant surprise for Akron and coach Dan Hipsher as the Zips (4-10, 0-3) have battled injuries. Since stepping into the starting lineup, Peterson has produced for Hipsher, scoring in double digits in all but one of his nine starts, highlighted by a 20-point, 10-rebound performance against Cleveland State. For the season, he is averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds a game.

        Horace reunited with another high school teammate in December when the RedHawks defeated Malcom Andrews and Wright State 67-61. Horace had a huge game, scoring a career-high 19 points, gathering 10 rebounds and blocking five shots. At 5-10, Andrews didn't have the responsibility of guarding Horace. Peterson won't be that lucky.

        “It didn't surprise me,” said Andrews, who played all four years with Peterson and Horace at Western Hills and now is a backup for Wright State. “Danny dominated (in high school) and he continues it at college.”

        With a win over Akron, Coles will become only the third coach in Miami history to win 100 games for the school. Sophomore Juby Johnson was a major reason why Coles won Nos.98 and 99, setting new career highs in points, with 18 and 26, respectively, as the RedHawks enjoyed their first two-game winning streak of the season.

        Akron's top scoring threat is Rashon Brown, who is coming off a career-high 27 points in a loss to Eastern Michigan.

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