“There is a lot we can get from this tournament,” Cooper said. “I like this group. These pups are playing hard and I think will continue to work on guarding the basketball.”
Guarding the basketball was especially tough against the Norse (3-2).
NKU had an inside threat in Drew McDonald (23 points, 9 rebounds) and outside with Lavone Holland II (25 points, five assists). Add in Cole Murray’s 11 off the bench and the Norse presented issues.
“Northern Kentucky ran their offense to the point where they executed everything very well,” Miami freshman Michael Weathers said. “I think that is part of what got us out of our game. We were out running in transition too much and it got us out of our game, but I think I can learn from all of this.”
Weathers was one of the bright spots for the RedHawks.
The freshman guard from Kansas finished with a game-high 31 points in 30 minutes. He also almost led the hosts back.
Miami trailed 61-50 with 5:01 remaining, but behind eight points from Weathers – including a two-handed slam – cut the NKU lead to 65-61 with 1:53 remaining.
NKU, however, went 10 of 12 from the line down the stretch to put the game away.
“I think we got fatigued from always having to come back,” Weathers said. “We have to play with energy from the first possession of the game, and we didn’t do that.”
Miami started fast, jumping to a 6-0 lead before NKU went on a 11-5 run to tie the game.
Marcus Weathers connected for his lone points of the game to give Miami a 21-16 lead with 7:49 remaining, but NKU closed with a 18-7 run to take a 34-28 lead at the break.
Miami was never able to get equal with the Norse in the second half, getting as close as 38-37 on a three by Michael Weathers with 14:48 remaining in the game.
Miami shot just 42 percent from the floor and 26 percent from 3-point range with Jake Wright making three of Miami’s five threes in finishing with 11 points.
“I think we are a better shooting team than what we showed,” Cooper said. “We’ve got to get better production out of our offense. Rod Mills has to be better. Period.”
Mills, the junior forward, finished with just two points while turning the ball over a team high five times.
Cooper still sees the light at the end of the tunnel as the RedHawks prepare to Western Illinois at 7 p.m. Saturday.
“As much as I hate losing a game, down the stretch we had three freshmen out there,” Cooper said. “Those pups were executing and that is something you can’t teach without them going through it.”
All tournament team: Michael Weathers was named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of their contest with NKU. Holland II and McDonald made the team from NKU. Cazmon Hayes (Delaware) and Kenny Jones (Austin Peay) rounded out the team.
Austin Peay’s Josh Robinson was named the Most Valuable Player.
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