The Miami University RedHawks men’s basketball team (13-4, 5-0 in conference play) returns to Millett Hall tonight at 7 p.m. against the Bowling Green State University Falcons (7-10, 2-3 in conference play).
After their last 70-61 victory against the Kent State University Golden Flashes, the RedHawks moved to seven-straight wins and rose to 5-0 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
Four RedHawks scored in the double-digits against Kent State. Redshirt first-year wing Brant Byers led Miami with 15 points, his sixth game of the season with more than 10 points.
Sophomore wing Eian Elmer put up 14 points, his fourth double-digit performance in MAC play. Sophomore guard Mekhi Cooper shot 4-5 on field goals and contributed 12 points, his third-most of the season.
Junior forward Antwone Woolfolk brought in 10 points while leading the roster with three turnovers, his fourth time doing so since arriving in Oxford.
While the RedHawks sit at 1.000, the Falcons have struggled to stay at .500 through their first five games.
After dropping their first conference matchup to the University of Akron Zips, the Falcons rebounded with a win over the Western Michigan University Broncos. Four days later, they fell to the Ball State University Cardinals.
Bowling Green evened its MAC record 2-2 four days later with a victory against the University of Buffalo Bulls. However, the Falcons lost their .500 standing with their 68-62 loss to the Eastern Michigan University Eagles on Sunday.
Senior forward Marcus Johnson shot 3 for 5 on 3-pointers and finished the day with 18 points against the Eagles. Senior guard Trey Thomas, the Falcons’ leading scorer in conference play, brought in 16 points and turned the ball over four times.
Johnson has been a consistent strong point for the Falcons. His 285 points leads the MAC, and he has scored in the double-digits in all but two games this season. Johnson is currently on a nine-game streak with 10 or more points, including 21 against Buffalo last week.
Defensively, Jamai Felt has proven to be a problem for opponents in multiple categories. The redshirt first-year forward had 10 rebounds against Eastern Michigan. His 101 rebounds this season puts him at eighth in the MAC. Felt also places second in the MAC with 25 blocks.
The RedHawks went 1-1 against the Falcons during the 2023-24 season. Last March, Bowling Green boasted a 37-31 lead with 12 minutes left. However, Miami scored 15-straight points while allowing zero to take the advantage through the remaining time, ultimately winning 66-58.
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Historically, Miami is 91-61 against Bowling Green. A win tonight would put the RedHawks at 6-0 in MAC play, matching their 2005-06 start.
The teams will meet at Millett Hall for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
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