The Miami University RedHawks men’s basketball team took its 23rd win of the regular season after outscoring the Ball State University Cardinals 79-66 at Millett Hall on March 7.
The RedHawks played their best regular season since 1998-99, when they finished 24-8 and reached Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
Graduate student guard Dan Luers brought in 18 points on senior night. Luers arrived in Oxford from the transfer portal last season after playing three years at Eastern Illinois University.
“I’m super happy with how [tonight] went,” Luers said. “I think the back-to-back wins, hopefully it will give us some momentum going into next week.”
Graduate student guard Dan Luers watching his shot go through the rim at Millett Hill against Ball State on March 7
Redshirt sophomore wing Kam Craft led both teams with 19 points. Sophomore guard Evan Ipsaro joined Luers and Craft in the double-figures with 10 points along with six assists.
Luers opened the scoring with seven-straight points, including his seventh 3-pointer of the season. Miami held the Cardinals to zero during the first five minutes of play.
A layup from Ipsaro brought the RedHawks up 9-0. Sophomore wing Eian Elmer added another two, and Ball State struggled to get in the rim going into the 13-minute mark.
Graduate student guard Ethan Brittain-Watts gave the Cardinals their first points with a 3-pointer. Junior guard Jermahri Hill added a layup, but the RedHawks scored five straight, including an Elmer triple, to stay up 18-5.
Redshirt first-year wing Brant Byers scored his first points of the night from behind the arc to give Miami a 21-7 lead. With a triple from Craft, the RedHawks held a 27-9 advantage going into the final five minutes of the half.
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Ball State reached double-digits with a layup from Hill, but the Cardinals stayed out of reach. An assist from junior forward Antwone Woolfolk allowed first-year guard Luke Skaljac to hit a jumper before the buzzer, sending the game to half with Miami up 41-23.
Craft sank two 3-pointers to open the second half. Senior center Payton Sparks shot two free throws, but sophomore guard Mekhi Cooper and Craft responded with back-to-back triples.
Sophomore center Reece Potter brought the RedHawks up 57-30. Ball State scored six unanswered before Elmer made his second 3-pointer of the night.
Sophomore guard Joey Hart cut the deficit to 62-41, but the RedHawks added another five points, including Luers’ second triple of the night, going into the final 10 minutes.
Miami held its lead for the remainder of the game. Luers finished his last home game with 18 points, and the RedHawks defended Millett for the 15th and final time of the season 79-66.
“I couldn’t be happier for him,” head coach Travis Steele said. “He’s meant a lot to our program. From a fan’s perspective, and maybe the outside world, he hasn’t played as much, [but] they don’t understand how big of an impact he’s had on our program. He’s a big reason why we’ve been able to turn around our program.”
The RedHawks play their first game in the Mid-American Conference tournament on March 13 against the Eastern Michigan University Eagles in Cleveland.
