By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

OXFORD - Miami guard Juby Johnson says he'll play in the RedHawks' exhibition game Thursday against the University of Findlay at Millett Hall. The youthful RedHawks proved Saturday how much they need the injured Johnson.

Johnson and four other injured Miami players watched from the bench Saturday as the RedHawks lost 70-63 to the 320 All-Stars.

"I know that looked terrible, but if you put your glasses on and look at it, it wasn't as terrible as it may have seemed," Miami coach Charlie Coles said.

Dayton Chaminade-Julienne's Nathan Peavy started at forward and went 4-for-8 from the field and scored nine points. Roger Bacon's Monty St. Clair started at center in place of Nate Vandersluis, who was working with the first team until he suffered a leg injury. St. Clair, the plum of Miami's highly regarded five-player recruiting class, went 1-for-8 from the field, including 0-for-5 on 3-pointers.

"It didn't go as well as I'd hoped," St. Clair said. "Those guys could shoot really well, and we didn't make shots."

The All-Stars, whose winless record included a 102-96 loss at Binghamton (N.Y.) University, sank 11 3-pointers in the first half and led by as many as 17 points in the second half. The RedHawks cut the lead to five on sophomore guard William Hatcher's 3-pointer with 1:58 left.

Junior guard Chet Mason recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore guard Josh Hausfeld led MU with 15 points.

"It's very disappointing," Coles said. "You like to win those, but you have to live with it and hope the players get better.

"Our thing is we've got to get back to work. We're getting nice shots. You can't get better shots. We've got to make some of them."

Miami opens its season Nov. 21 at Liberty.