Unlikely hero emerges for RedHawks

Adam Thomas had two big dunks in overtime to lead Miami.

Mesoraco's slam sends Reds over Braves
7:38 a.m.
Lost chances cost Cougars
5/25/12
Badin advances to regional final
5/25/12
West hopes to keep winning
5/25/12
Is third time the charm for senior?
5/25/12
> More sports headlines

1:22 AM Thursday, February 2, 2012

By Pete Conrad

Staff Writer

OXFORD — An unlikely star was born Wednesday night after Miami University’s basketball team pulled off one of the more dramatic comebacks seen in recent Millett Hall history.

The RedHawks outscored the Eastern Michigan Eagles 12-1 over the final 2:38 of regulation and won in overtime 62-57 to snap a four-game losing streak.

Miami senior Julian Mavunga led all scorers with 19 points, hit 8-of-10 free throws over the final 44 seconds of overtime and had career highs with 19 rebounds and eight assists. Jon Harris hit a 3-point basket with 17.4 seconds left in regulation to tie the game.

But it was “A.T.” who stole the show — Adam Thomas, the senior forward from Springboro who didn’t get into the game until the final 4:17 of regulation.

“Thank goodness he was out there tonight,” Mavunga said. “When A.T. came into the game, our energy level on both offense and defense really came up.”

“How about A.T.?” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “He made me look awful bad tonight. You don’t play him until the four-minute mark and he plays like that? Well, he’s starting the next game.”

Thomas had six points and three rebounds in nine minutes off the bench, but four of the points came on spectacular dunks down the stretch.

The first was a put-back slam, Miami’s first points of the overtime. The second came on a short lob pass from Mavunga to give the RedHawks a 52-48 lead with 1:37 left in overtime.

The crowd of 1,547 went into a frenzy, sounding more like 8,000.

“He signaled me, pointed up and gave a head nod,” Mavunga said. “I knew it would be a great play or a disaster ... But I had faith enough to put it in there. I knew he would finish it.”

“That’s a big thing when your big guy (Mavunga) trusts a guy who just came into the game, who’s not a starter,” Coles said.

Thomas started the night averaging only 1.3 points and 5.5 minutes of playing time per game.

Eastern Michigan (10-12, 5-3 Mid-American Conference), which had come into the game as the MAC West Division leader, led 45-34 when Quinten Rollins stole the ball and scored to spark Miami’s 12-1 run.

“He’s pretty good when he’s a little wild on defense, because that’s his nature and it got the other guys moving,” Coles said of Rollins, who scored 10 points for the RedHawks (6-14, 2-6 MAC).

Next game

Who: Miami RedHawks  (6-13, 2-5 MAC) at Ball State Cardinals (12-8, 4-4 MAC)

When: 4 p.m. Saturday

Radio: WMOH-AM (1450)

Share this article