By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

FAIRBORN - Even with a height-challenged lineup, the Miami RedHawks proved Saturday they can control a talented big man. It was the smaller guy who gave them trouble.

Wright State senior guard Vernard Hollins grabbed two crucial offensive rebounds in the last three minutes and converted the first into a three-point play, giving the Raiders a 51-48 victory before 4,285 at Nutter Center.

The 6-foot-2 Hollins scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half after 6-8 junior Seth Doliboa scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half.

"I thought we did a real good job adjusting to Doliboa," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "Vernard's a good player. He just keeps working and working."

Said Doliboa: "They keyed on 'Nard in the first half. He had three assists in the first half. I see he only had one in the second half. He got me open a lot in the first half. When they come out and key on me, he's open. Hopefully, they can't guard us both."

Hollins' jump hook gave the Raiders (3-0) their largest lead, 32-21, and prompted a quick Miami timeout with 18:23 left in the game. The RedHawks, who fell to 1-3 for the third time in their last four seasons, slowly came back, forging a 46-44 lead with 3:09 left. Hollins then grabbed Doliboa's airball in traffic and put up a reverse layup while being fouled by Miami junior forward Juby Johnson. Hollins hit the free throw, giving WSU a 47-46 lead.

Hollins sank three more free throws to widen the lead, 50-46. He missed his next four free throws, but two of those came after Hollins collected another offensive rebound and drew Johnson's fifth and final foul.

That cost the RedHawks their leading scorer (Johnson had 16 points) as they set up for the play that could have won the game or sent it to overtime. Instead, senior forward Bryan Reed was whistled for traveling while passing to senior guard Matt Jameson for a potential 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left in the game. Hollins was fouled again and sank his last free throw.

"I thought it was a bump," Coles said of the traveling called on Reed. "I thought the game was well-officiated. Those are the calls you always remember - when they come at the end. I was watching how we ran the play. I didn't see the walk. I saw the bump."

"I think we did what wanted to do," Coles added. "Early on, we had all sorts of good shots, but we were a little gun-shy. If we can build off this, then it's not a bad loss. But, once again, we're behind the 8-ball."

Miami	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Reed	30	0	0	2	2	11	1	3	3	2
Horace	24	1	8	2	2	3	0	4	0	5
Jameson	31	2	4	0	0	2	0	3	2	4
Mason	32	4	9	5	6	2	3	3	5	13
Johnson	34	4	6	5	6	3	1	5	1	16
Drake	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Williams	13	1	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	3
Baumgartner	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Seals	17	2	4	0	0	2	0	2	0	5
Schenke	10	0	1	0	0	1	2	1	1	0
Totals	200	14	36	14	16	24	8	21	12	48

Team rebounds - 0.

Player	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Doliboa	36	7	18	2	2	7	1	1	2	18
Hope	31	0	3	0	0	5	1	5	2	0
Hollins	34	4	9	9	14	5	4	1	3	17
Freeman	26	2	5	2	2	2	1	2	1	8
Bills	32	2	3	0	0	1	2	0	0	6
Bushman	15	1	1	0	0	3	2	1	2	2
Andrews	7	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0
Starkey	11	0	3	0	0	2	0	1	0	0
Walls	8	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	1	0
Totals	200	16	44	13	18	29	11	15	12	51

Team rebounds - 2.

Miami	21	27	-48
Wright St.	27	24	-51

3-pointers - MU 6-19 (Horace 1-3, Jameson 0-2, Mason 0-3, Johnson 3-4, Drake 0-1, Williams 1-3, Seals 1-3), Wright State 6-15 (Doliboa 2-3, Hope 0-2, Hollins 0-2, Freeman 2-5, Bills 2-3). Technicals - None. Officials - Phil Bova, Lamont Simpson, Sid Rodeheffer. Attendance - 4,285.

Next for Miami

Wednesday: At home vs. Dayton Flyers, 7 p.m.