Miami Student

Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: Sports

Junior guard Kenny Hayes and the RedHawk offense was held to the team's lowest point total since the 2001 campaign as coach Coles missed his second game in a row.

The Miami University men's basketball team entered a contest against No. 23 Kent State University with the opportunity to show they can go dancing again this year.

A week left before the start of the MAC Tournament and only three days removed from a convincing win over bitter rival Ohio University, the tide turned on Miami with a disappointing 50-39 loss to the Golden Flashes.

"We knew we couldn't turn the ball over," said associate head coach Jermaine Henderson after the game in which his team mishandled the ball 16 times. "It gave them momentum … For the most part we did what we wanted to do, but then they turned up the heat a little bit and we didn't respond quite the way we wanted to."

The RedHawks' 39 points were the team's lowest scoring total since December 2001.

"Not only was it a tough night, it was a non-existent night trying to get the ball in the basket," Henderson said.

Miami shot a meager 33 percent from the field in route to their third loss in four games.

As the Red and White continues to fight for a possible first round bye in the MAC Tournament, Kent State capped off its Senior Night by clinching the top seed.

"You're playing in a tough environment (at Kent State)," said senior Tim Pollitz. "That was senior night. You can't make that an excuse, but no one wants to lose on senior night. Kent State hasn't lost on their home court all year … they're the number one team in the MAC."

Pollitz led the RedHawks with 13 points while receiving little offensive help from his teammates.

After dumping 31 points on Ohio, junior guard Michael Bramos managed only six points on a painful night in which he shot a dismal 2-13 from the field. Junior guard Kenny Hayes edged Bramos in futility, however, scoring just two points while missing all eight field goal attempts.

As the RedHawks struggled to put points on the board, Kent State's defense did not make the night any easier for Miami.

"They love to pressure us and force tough shots," Pollitz said. "The thing is you get by one guy, they're such a great help defensive team there's another guy standing right there ready to close out on your shot … Kent State really locks down on the defensive side of things and forces us to take some hard shots."

Continued...

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