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Falcons snap Miami’s four-game winning streak

By Jack Brewer, For The Miami Student

Bowling Green State University mounted a late comeback to snap Miami University's four-game winning streak.

The Falcons (19-8, 11-5 Mid-American Conference) were held scoreless for nearly the first 10 minutes of the second half, but railed to win 62-57.

"They did a good job of not giving in, and getting the shots that they wanted to get," head coach John Cooper said. "On the opposite end, we just didn't. We had some poor possessions, some turnovers, some late shots. We just weren't quite there offensively. Having said that, we still had an opportunity to be right there and win the game but we just couldn't figure that thing out and bring it home."

Miami led by 11 with just over eight minutes to play, but the RedHawks couldn't hang on.

"They just wanted it more today," junior guard Eric Washington said. "I think we took them for granted … They were a little bit tougher than us today."

The RedHawks (12-17, 7-9 MAC) had two players score double figures, led by Washington with 16 points and junior guard Willie Moore with 11. Miami struggled to keep possession of the ball, turning it over 17 times.

"You can't have that," Washington said of the turnovers. "Especially when they had 10. That's seven more possessions they had."

Saturday marked the team's first loss since Feb. 10, when the 'Hawks lost on the road to Eastern Michigan University 83-69. Despite the loss Saturday, the RedHawks are rounding into form at the right time. With only two games left on the schedule, the MAC Tournament is right around the corner and Miami is battling for an opening round home game.

The next opponent for Miami is the University of Akron, who is coming off a win over Ohio. The Zips (18-11, 9-7 MAC) won 70-58 last Friday to snap a four-game losing streak. One of those losses came at the hands of the RedHawks back on Feb. 21, when Miami topped the Zips on the road 57-52 in overtime.

"This team never really gives in," Cooper said. "Their competitive nature, they're a resilient bunch of kids and we're able to hang in there and make plays down the stretch."

The RedHawks' final home game is 7 p.m. Tuesday, as they look to bounce back from the loss to Bowling Green.

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"We just gotta get better," Washington said. "Hopefully, this humbles this group."