Preview: Men’s basketball looks to go 2-0 in MAC-Sun Belt Challenge with matchup against Troy

The Miami University RedHawks men’s basketball team (17-5) plays its second matchup against a Sun Belt Conference (SBC) opponent in the Troy University Trojans (15-8) on Feb. 8 at Millett Hall. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Each year, teams in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) faceoff twice against an opponent from the Sun Belt. This MAC-SBC challenge first started last season, and Miami suffered two losses to the Texas State University Bobcats and the Georgia State University Panthers.

The RedHawks kicked off the 2024-25 season with their first matchup against a Sun Belt opponent, the Appalachian State University Mountaineers. Miami outscored the Mountaineers in consecutive halves to take its first victory 77-63.

This weekend, the RedHawks halt their 9-1 run in MAC play for a matchup against the Trojans, the third meeting between the two.

Miami last faced Troy in 2011, when the Trojans sank 14 3-pointers enroute to a 73-60 victory. The two met one year prior when the RedHawks took the lead in the final minutes and won 80-73.

Over a decade later, the two will rematch at Millett Hall in the middle of successful 2024-25 campaigns.

Miami’s road victory against Appalachian State preluded a loss in the home-opener against the Wright State University Raiders on Nov. 9. Since then, the RedHawks have gone undefeated at Millett Hall.

In the new year, the RedHawks accomplished their best start to conference play since the 2005-06 season. However, Miami’s 6-0 standing and seven-game winning streak hit a brick wall with a loss to the University of Akron Zips.

The RedHawks rebounded with a three-game winning streak, including their latest victory against the Central Michigan University Chippewas.

The Chippewas took the lead early in the second quarter, but three 3-pointers from first-year guard Luke Skaljac gave Miami a 10-point advantage that it held through the final minutes, allowing the RedHawks to take their ninth conference victory 81-73.

This week gave the Miami faithful a reason to celebrate, but the same can’t be said about Troy’s fans.

The Trojans entered Wednesday’s matchup against the James Madison University Dukes on a four-game winning streak. That run came to a close when the Dukes took a last-minute victory 64-61, causing the Trojans to drop to 8-4 in conference play.

Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter

Senior guard Tayton Conerway leads Troy with 300 points while shooting 47.5% on field goals. Sophomore forward Myles Rigsby follows with 240 points, while his brother, junior guard Marcus Rigsby Jr., leads the team with 33 3-pointers towards his 168 total points.

Meanwhile, the duo of junior guard Peter Suder and redshirt sophomore wing Kam Craft has been a highlight of the RedHawks’ offense. The transfers from Bellarmine University and Xavier University respectively have combined for 631 points so far this season.

A third transfer, Antwone Woolfolk from Rutgers University, has proven to be a significant asset as well. The junior forward leads the roster with 136 rebounds while contributing 187 points.

Miami’s offense faces a significant challenge against a Trojan defense that ranks 32nd in the NCAA for average points allowed (65.2).

A primary factor to Troy’s defensive strength lies in Conerway, who leads the Sun Belt with 70 steals. His three steals per game average is fourth-highest in the country.

The RedHawks will be looking for their 10th victory this season at Millett Hall at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu