With mounting pressure after a slow conference start, the 'Hawks lost a heartbreaker Wednesday night at Bowling Green State University 55-52.

Junior guard Kenny Hayes had a chance to send the game into overtime at the buzzer, but was unable to convert a tough 3-point attempt off a dribble drive.

The loss dropped Miami to 1-4 in Mid-American Conference play and just 7-10 overall.

"1-4 isn't as scary as (you think) but we have to get better," said Assistant Head Coach Jermaine Henderson. "(At) 1-4, we're not going to blink at all."

Playing in his last game at Anderson Arena near his hometown of Ottawa, Ohio, senior forward Tim Pollitz continued to be Mr. Consistent, netting 15 points and nine boards.

Miami played its second game in a row without junior forward Michael Bramos who is out indefinitely after suffering a high ankle sprain last Thursday against Kent State University.

"We got to get healthy," Henderson said. "We lost 15 points (per game) without Bramos."

While Pollitz offered his usual numbers, the RedHawks struggled to find a replacement for Bramos but saw solid contributions from their starting backcourt. Sophomore Alex Moosmann chipped in 11 points to compliment Hayes' 10-point effort.

The visiting Red and White got off to a fast start jumping out to an early 15-4 advantage. Miami attacked the Falcons from all angles with four different players connecting on the first four field goals for the 'Hawks.

After the Red and White wore down the Bowling Green man-to-man coverage, the Falcons switched to a zone defense and gave the 'Hawks fits for the rest of the night.

"We ran out of time figuring out the zone," Henderson said.

Although the defensive strategy successfully slowed the Miami onslaught, Henderson maintained the RedHawks are still responsible for the loss.

"When you come into the gym and shoot under 40 percent it's tough (to win)," he said. "We had our open shots and missed them … we got ourselves to blame-we don't point any fingers."

Miami shot a paltry 39 percent from the field while Bowling Green netted 45 percent of its shots, including an impressive 47 percent from 3-point land.

While the 'Hawks have the second worst conference record in the MAC, the Miami pedigree offers hope to some.

"Us being Miami, we usually don't have this kind of record," Pollitz said. "We got to keep our heads up … anything can happen in the MAC Tourney."

Henderson echoed Pollitz's point.

"We're Miami, we're going to stand tall," he said.

While the 'Hawks were able to fly under the radar at times last season, Pollitz admits no one is overlooking Miami this year.

"We have a target on ourselves (because of) the MAC Tourney victory," he said. "Each team has a little more urge to beat us."

Although Miami's conference record is concerning, Henderson pointed out that the schedule makers didn't take it easy on the Red and White either. The RedHawks have already played the top four teams in the MAC East, including three of those contests on the road.

The RedHawks will try to right the ship once more Saturday afternoon when they take on Eastern Michigan University at 4 p.m. in Millett Hall.