Feb. 18, 2009

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio -- Miami committed 19 turnovers and shot a season-low 27.8 percent in a 53-44 loss at Akron Wednesday night. The RedHawks hit just 13 of 47 attempts from the field, including only three of 15 from three-point range.

Nick Winbush had the only hot hand for Miami (15-9, 8-5), hitting five of eight from the field and four of five free throws enroute to a career-high 16 points. Michael Bramos also reached double figures with 12 points, but connected on just three of 18 overall and one of nine three-pointers. Akron's Chris McKnight led all scorers with 18 points on six three-pointers, plus added seven rebounds.

Miami forced a 19-19 tie on a Tyler Dierkers layup early in the second half, but an addtional free throw to take the lead bounced out. Akron then went on a 7-0 run over the next 5:42 and never trailed again.

The RedHawks tried to rally, closing to within three, 36-33, on a miraculous shot by Eric Pollitz with 4:52 to play. After gaining the ball during a mad scramble and nearly lying flat on the floor, the senior hit the basket as the shot clock expired.

But the RedHawks' luck ended there when the Zips tallied six straight points -- including back-to-back baskets by Anthony Hitchens -- to reopen a nine-point advantage with 2:32 to play. After two Kramer Soderberg free throws, Hitchens -- who finished the game with 12 points -- hit a three to push Akron's lead to double digits for the first time.

The first period was a defensive struggle as the teams combined for only 11 field goals. Miami hit 21.1 percent (five of 23), while Akron countered at 21.7 percent (six of 28). The Zips, however, turned that around in the second half, hitting 12 of 17 attempts (70.5 percent).

Akron gained 13 of its 17 first-half points off of 12 RedHawk turnovers. Miami held a 14-12 lead when Bramos hit a layup at the 5:32 mark, but the Zips held the RedHawks scoreless over the remaining time enroute to a 17-14 edge at the break.

Miami steps out of conference for its next matchup, Saturday at Evansville in the ESPNU BracketBuster event. Tip-off for the ESPNU-televised contest is at 3:30 p.m.

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