Junior guard Kenny Hayes pulls up for a jump shot against the University of Toledo Rockets Wednesday night at Millett Hall, which Miami won, 76-47.
Dominating from the opening tip to the closing whistle, the Miami University men's basketball team defeated the University of Toledo 76-47 to move the RedHawks into third place in the MAC East division.
The win also extended the RedHawks' winning streak to four games and improved their record to 11-10 overall, and 5-4 in Mid-American Conference play.
Miami now sits just one game behind the University of Akron and Ohio University for second in the MAC East, and just two games behind Kent State University for first.
The RedHawks asserted their will early on both ends of the floor, claiming the lead for good only five minutes into the game. Junior guard Kenny Hayes paced the 'Hawks with 21 points, while senior forward Tim Pollitz added 20 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
"We played a solid ballgame," Pollitz said. "They're a tough team, but we played really aggressively."
Miami's defensive effort was relentless all night, as the Rockets shot only 32 percent from the field, while the 'Hawks shot an even 50 percent. Even more impressive to Miami Head Coach Charlie Coles than the field goal performance, was Miami's passing. The Red and White assisted on 21 of 32 baskets, while Toledo amassed only two assists for the entire game.
"We were able to play a pretty good game from start to finish," Coles said. "The biggest statistic tonight was 21 assists. That means guys are looking for each other and guys are moving."
The RedHawks' ball movement opened up room for Hayes beyond the 3-point line, where he shot 5-for-8. Hayes' shooting in turn opened space for Pollitz in the low post and the forward displayed his usual array of deft footwork and creativity to gather most of his points near the basket. Pollitz and Hayes combined to shoot 64 percent from the field.
While Pollitz and Hayes led the RedHawks, the team also got solid contributions from junior center Tyler Dierkers and junior guard Eric Pollitz. Dierkers posted eight points and nine rebounds and Pollitz added six points and six assists. Freshman forward Nick Winbush also added a career-high 10 points.
As scoring came easy for the RedHawks, the Rockets struggled early and often with Miami's defense, which focused on blocking the driving lanes and forcing jump shots. Toledo shot only 3-for-17 on 3-pointers, including a paltry 1-for-11 in the second half while trying to mount a comeback.
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"We weren't in sync," Toledo Head Coach Stan Joplin said. "We have no margin of error. It's been a bad year so far."
Toledo fell to 7-14 on the season and 4-5 in MAC play, with Wednesday's loss marking the 13th straight road defeat for the Rockets this season. It also meant Joplin will have to wait until at least Sunday's showdown at rival Bowling Green State University to gain his 200th career win.
Meanwhile, Coles is closing in on his 300th career victory, with Wednesday marking his 296th triumph, 204 of which have come with the RedHawks. Coles was pleased with Wednesday's performance and feels the team is hitting its stride.
"We came out and established ourselves on defense," Coles said. "It's very important for us to have some energy when we start out. That's what we struggled with earlier, but it seems like that's getting better."
The RedHawks' recent success can be attributed to the emergence of Hayes as a key contributor. Hayes is leading the 'Hawks in MAC play, averaging 17 points per game. His recent efforts earned him MAC East Player of the Week, and he has helped provide a perimeter scoring threat while junior forward Michael Bramos struggles to find his groove since returning from an ankle injury. Hayes eases the pressure on Pollitz, making it harder for opposing teams to shut down the RedHawks' versatile attack.
"Pollitz is a very tough matchup," Joplin said. "It's (also) tough for us because we don't have a point guard like Hayes."
The RedHawks look to continue their winning ways Saturday when the Central Michigan University Chippewas come to Millett Hall. The Chippewas bring a 10-11 record to Oxford, matching Miami's 5-4 record in MAC play. The game is part of Beat the State of Michigan weekend, sandwiched between Saturday afternoon's women's basketball contest against Western Michigan University at Millett Hall and the Miami/Michigan hockey showdown Saturday night at Steve Cady Arena.
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