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MU seeks elusive second conference win

D06616 Men's Bball v CMU
D06616 Men's Bball v CMU

By Ben Molnar, For The Miami Student

The Miami University men's basketball team (7-15, 1-8 Mid-American Conference) hosts Bowling Green University (13-9, 4-5 MAC) Saturday afternoon.

Senior guard Eric Washington was sidelined in Miami's 94-69 loss to Eastern Michigan University on Tuesday due to violation of team policy. Before that, he missed two games with a lower body injury.

Head coach John Cooper has looked to other teammates like senior guard Geovonie McKnight and guard Dion Wade to fill Washington's void.

"Dion is coachable in that. I'm on Dion," Cooper said. "Trying to get him to always stay locked in and focused and from a mental standpoint of what's going on in the game."

Wade collected 10 points, five rebounds, five blocks and four steals in 33 minutes of action against Northern Illinois University last weekend. He had eight points against EMU Tuesday.

"I've just been working hard and it's finally starting to pay off. My teammates also lifted me up and carried me throughout the game. I'm confident that they will do the same tomorrow night too. We all just came out and enjoyed playing and that's what energized me most. I can't do anything more besides play my role and have fun out there tomorrow," Wade said.

Senior forward Spencer Parker and junior guard Zack Denny pace the Falcons in scoring with 13.6 points per game and 12.9 per game, respectively.

"Looking at BG, I think up until this weekend, they were undefeated on the road, in conference play," Cooper said.

Washington looks forward to bouncing back from an embarrassing loss against Eastern Michigan.

"We just have stay confident as a unit, honestly. Keeping a positive mindset and understand we have been through the storm so it's only up from here. We just have to come together as a team do the little things that it take to win games," Washington said.

The Red and White take on the Falcons at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Millet Hall.

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