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RedHawk fans waited 25 days into the college basketball season to see their team play a home game. The Red and White made sure it was well worth it.
Senior guard Michael Bramos hit eight shots from behind the arc to boost Miami University to a 94-66 route of Northwestern State University. Miami's 94 points marks the school's highest regular-season total since the 1997-98 squad downed IUPUI 102-75 Dec. 2, 1997.
The Red and White (4-3) started the game off well but then abandoned their game plan by shooting a collection of low-percentage shots. This led to a close first-half half score and Miami advantage of 35-29.
The 'Hawks accelerated through the second half, however, leaving the Demons in the dust by shooting 50.8 percent from the floor. Miami scored 59 second-half points as all 13 RedHawk players that saw action in the game also got in on the scoring.
"I was happy," senior guard Kenny Hayes said. "I think the team was excited to be playing here for the first time. There was a lot of emotion. We started the game off with a lot of energy then it kind of went down. Then in the second half we came out with a lot of energy and then kept it."
Bramos led the second-half charge, scorching the Millett nets by converting all six of his three-point attempts. He ended the game as the leading scorer with 31 points, marking the fifth 30-point game of his career. Twenty-three of Bramos' tallies came in the second half, breaking the 20-point mark in a single frame for the second consecutive game; Bramos netted 21 second-half points against Temple University Wednesday.
"They did a great job of finding me, especially when I had the hot hand," Bramos said. "They were just giving me good shots. It's a credit to them-they really passed it well tonight. I'm moving more these past couple games. The more I move, the easier it is to get shots. They're doing a heck of a job of setting screens, getting me open and finding me on the perimeter."
Another emerging star for the Red and White has been senior forward, and local product, Tyler Dierkers. The Cincinnati standout notched his first double-double of the year, scoring 15 points and pulling down 11 boards. Dierkers did not limit his marks on the stat sheet to just two columns as he also grabbed two steals, dished out 4 assists and blocked a shot.
Hayes has also been in on the recent success of the RedHawks. In two consecutive games, Hayes has set career highs in assists by dishing out eight against the Demons and six against the Temple Owls. Like many good teams, Miami enjoys the consistency at the guard position as a way to organize the offense and be a quarterback for the defense.
"For the second straight game we had a large number of assists and a small number of turnovers," head coach Charlie Coles said. "That is one of our key ingredients when we have success, not to turn the ball over. I kind of think that they're going to do that most nights. They play hard. If we can control the offense, we can certainly control the defense. Michael had all good shots when he shot those threes. We expect him and Kenny Hayes and Dierkers to a certain degree to be those kinds of guys."
Keithan Hancock led the visiting Demons with 15 points. Miami was able to control the passing lanes defensively against the opposing point guards.
Two of the guards, Michael and Logan McConathy are brothers and the sons of Northwestern State Coach Mike McConathy. This relationship is unique because they are the only father-sons combination in Division I basketball and one of only two such occurrences known in the past two decades.
The Red and White continue their three-game home stand when they face UW-Milwaukee Thursday.
