By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

On Dec. 29, 2001, the last time Miami's men's basketball team visited University of Dayton Arena to play the Flyers, the RedHawks scored a total of 23 points - and that was before coach Charlie Coles installed the slow-down, Princeton-style offense.

Dayton won 60-23.

Obviously, the RedHawks (2-0) hope to be a little more prolific against Miami Valley rival Dayton at 8 p.m. today. Whether that's possible is another matter, especially after Miami mustered only 27 points against Ohio Dominican's zone defense in the second half of a 67-59 win over the NAIA school Nov. 24.

"We've got to develop more consistency and work hard to eliminate the non-scoring stretches we've experienced over the last few years," said Coles, who wants to see his team score at least 70 points every game.

Coles might've been thinking about that game at UD Arena two years ago, when the RedHawks went 10 minutes without scoring before Larry Drake sank a 3-pointer. The RedHawks scored eight points in the first half, the fewest in a half by a Miami team, and the 20-8 score at intermission tied the school record for the fewest combined points in a half.

The RedHawks managed 15 points in the second half, but they finished without a double-figure scorer for the first time since 1986. Their 23 points were the fewest since the 21 they scored in a loss to Ohio in 1941.

The Flyers go into their home opener 4-0, including the Maui Invitational championship. They lost at Miami's Millett Hall 78-63 last season, but they rebounded to earn an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Coach Oliver Purnell left for Atlantic Coast Conference Clemson after last season, and Dayton gave former Michigan State assistant Brian Gregory his first head coaching job. Four starters return from last season, giving Dayton the weapons to battle Xavier for the Atlantic 10 Conference West Division championship. Four Flyers starters own double-figure scoring averages, and the fifth is averaging 9.5. Two seniors, 6-foot-2 Ramod Marshall and 7-foot Sean Finn, were named to the Maui all-tournament team. Dayton's third senior starter, 6-8 Keith Waleskowski, scored only six points in 33 minutes against Miami last season.

Dayton is fifth among teams also receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

"They've got a good veteran team and, like us, have a lot of returning players," said Coles, who also has four returning starters. "We are concerned about their height and outside shooting."

Miami hasn't played since beating Ohio Dominican, an eight-day breather that could be just what the RedHawks need to get ready for a stretch of four games in nine days that continues with their Mid-American Conference opener at Western Michigan on Saturday.

They return to their home court, and to the A-10, to meet defending West Division-champion Xavier next Tuesday before playing Wright State at Millett Dec. 11 in their last game before finals.

Miami at Dayton

Tipoff: 8 p.m. today, University of Dayton Arena (13,266), Dayton.

Records: Miami 2-0, Dayton 4-0.

TV: Ch. 7.

Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WMOH-AM (1450), WHIO-AM (1290).

MIAMI

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Chet Mason	Jr.	6-4	14.5
Josh Hausfeld	So.	6-3	6.5
Juby Johnson	Sr.	6-5	20.5
Danny Horace	Jr.	6-6	13.5
Eric Van Buskirk	Fr.	6-8	4.0

Coach: Charlie Coles (122-93, eighth season; 214-177 overall).

DAYTON

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Ramod Marshall	Sr.	6-2	19.8
Sean Finn	Sr.	7-0	14.5
Keith Waleskowski	Sr.	6-8	14.0
Mark Jones	Jr.	6-1	10.0
Monty Scott	So.	6-6	9.5

Coach: Brian Gregory (4-0, first season; same overall).