By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

OXFORD - Going into the season, Miami basketball coach Charlie Coles was hoping that stiffer competition in practice would make the RedHawks better in actual games.

But with Miami's two exhibition games out of the way and the season opener at Liberty looming next Friday, Coles still is searching for results.

The RedHawks bore little resemblance to the preseason pick to win the Mid-American Conference East Division while squeezing past Division II Findlay 63-60 in an exhibition game at Millett Hall Thursday night. Miami needed seven points from sophomore guard William Hatcher in the final three minutes to hold off the Oilers.

"At first glance, you say, 'What's going on?' " Coles said. "We've got to get better, and I trust that we will."

Senior guard Juby Johnson, a preseason All-MAC all-star, started after missing a couple of weeks of practice and the first exhibition game, a 70-63 loss to the 320 All-Stars last Saturday, with a groin injury. Seniors Gene Seals and Larry Drake, sophomore Nate VanderSluis and freshman Doug Penno remained sidelined with various leg problems.

"We've got to have harder practices," Coles said. "We've got to get more competition and more guys stepping up."

Johnson played 33 minutes and scored 10 points, including three free throws in the last 30 seconds. He was one of four players in double figures for Miami. Junior guard Chet Mason recorded a double-double for the second consecutive game, leading both teams with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

"The rest of the guys need to take stock," Coles said. "Chet had 15 rebounds, and nobody else was even close. They have to examine themselves and ask why Chet has to get all of the rebounds."

Tyson McGlaughlin and Brad Rethman led Findlay with 10 points each. Oilers sophomore Frank Phillips, a Roger Bacon product, added nine points and led Findlay with seven rebounds.

The RedHawks, who struggled offensively in their first game, showed signs of getting on track in this game. Their offense opened up more inside looks. Freshman Eric Van Buskirk came off the bench and turned in a team-high four assists and seven points. The post player also delivered a 3-pointer that tied the game at 52 with 5:42 left to play.

"In high school, I played more outside, so I'm confident out there," said the 6-foot-8 Van Buskirk, who played at Loveland High School. "We practice those shots a lot, so when they come, they're routine."

Findlay	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Sommer	18	2	2	0	0	1	0	2	3	4
Phillips	31	3	5	2	2	7	6	2	1	9
Commons	25	3	10	0	0	4	1	1	2	6
McGlaughlin	26	4	8	0	0	3	0	0	2	10
Pfeifer	32	1	4	0	0	0	6	2	3	3
Schnipke	7	1	2	0	0	1	0	3	0	2
Smith	9	1	2	1	2	1	1	0	0	4
Metzger	14	3	6	0	4	2	1	2	0	8
Rethman	22	3	8	3	3	3	1	0	2	10
Dalrymple	8	0	1	1	2	1	0	2	0	1
Bass	8	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	3
Totals	200	22	50	7	13	27	16	14	14	60

Team rebounds - 4.

Miami	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Johnson	33	3	6	3	6	2	2	2	3	10
Horace	36	5	10	1	2	7	3	3	1	11
St. Clair	23	2	6	0	0	1	3	1	0	5
Hausfeld	22	1	5	0	0	1	2	0	0	3
Mason	40	8	16	0	0	15	2	2	4	17
Schenke	6	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	2	0
Hatcher	18	4	6	1	2	4	0	2	1	10
Peavy	5	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0
Van Buskirk	17	3	4	0	0	2	4	3	1	7
Totals	200	26	53	5	10	35	17	15	14	63

Team rebounds - 1.

Findlay	26	34	- 60
Miami	26	37	- 63

3-pointers - F 9-19 (Phillips 1-1, McGlaughlin 2-4, Pfeifer 1-4, Smith 1-1, Metzger 2-4, Rethman 1-3, Bass 1-2), M 6-19 (Johnson 1-3, Horace 0-1, St. Clair 1-1, Hausfeld 1-3, Mason 1-7, Hatcher 1-2, Van Buskirk 1-2). Technicals - None. Officials - Costain, Smith, Chamberlain. Attendance - 819.