WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Miami vs. Ohio, 6:30 p.m., 1450, 980
After his missed free throw helped open the door for Ohio to come from behind and steal a win in overtime on Miami’s home court at Millett Hall on Saturday, RedHawks’ senior Quinten Rollins wasn’t about to let Kent State pull off the same heist.
Rollins penetrated the Golden Flashes defense and connected on a pair of shots in traffic, helping Miami hold off Kent State for a 71-64 win in a Mid-American Conference first-round tournament game.
“This is the only game that matters,” Rollins said. “In a sense, this makes up for Saturday, because now we get to go to Cleveland – plus, I won my last game at Millett. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
“Quinten Rollins certainly figured it out today,” Miami coach John Cooper said. “He stepped up when we needed it. That’s what a senior does. It’s not the coaches. We call the plays and put the players in position to make plays, but you have to want to make the plays.”
Will Felder and Will Sullivan each made two free throws in the final 25 seconds as eighth-seeded Miami (13-17) reached the second round for the second consecutive season. The RedHawks advanced to play fifth-seeded Ohio on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The Bobcats have come from behind twice to beat Miami this season, including 82-76 in overtime on Saturday.
“Just staying the course,” Rollins said when asked if Miami had learned anything from the Ohio loss. “We had the opportunity to stay the course, and we did that.”
“We were able to make plays and make our free throws down the stretch,” Cooper said.
Willie Moore, who scored a career-high 24 points in the loss to Ohio, led both teams with 17 against Kent State (16-16), including a personal 8-0 run that left Miami leading, 43-33, with 14:47 left in the game. Moore scored 13 of his 17 in the second half.
“Just staying in the game and having confidence in your shot and making open shots,” Moore said of the difference in the two halves. “That’s about it.”
Sullivan and Rollins each scored 13 points and Felder finished with 10 for Miami. Sullivan failed to sink a 3-pointer for the second straight game, his first two-game stretch without hitting from beyond the arc since the first two games of the season.
Junior Kris Brewer led Kent State with 15 points, including 1-of-5 on 3-pointers after going 7-for-7 on his way to 28 points in the Golden Flashes’ 75-63 win at Miami on February 19. K.K. Simmons and Darren Goodson each added 10 points for ninth-seeded Kent State.
The RedHawks took their third 13-point lead of the second half, 57-44, on Geovonie McKnight’s floater with 8:42 left in regulation. Devareaux Manley sparked Kent State’s comeback by sinking back-to-back 3-pointers, igniting a 13-2 Golden Flashes run that saw Miami go scoreless from the field before Moore rattled in an off-balance leaner with 2:39 left in the game.
The RedHawks led at halftime, 33-31, after officials ruled that Brewer’s 30-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer didn’t count. Sullivan was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer and made all three free throws to give Miami the halftime lead. The lead change was the seventh of the half to go with six ties. Sullivan finished the half leading both teams with nine points.
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