Feb. 5, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

REDHAWKS CONTINUE ROAD STRETCH AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Miami continues its two-game road stretch when the RedHawks travel to Northern Illinois for a 4 p.m. (ET) game on Saturday, Feb. 6. The RedHawks are coming off a 56-54 win at Western Michigan on Thursday evening, collecting their first true road win of the season.

ABOUT THE HUSKIES: Northern Illinois enters Saturday's game with an 8-13 overall record and a 4-5 Mid-American Conference mark. After winning six straight, the Huskies have dropped their last five, including a 90-76 loss at Akron on Wednesday. This week, the RedHawks face the MAC's two top scorers in Western Michigan's David Kool and Northern Illinois' Xavier Silas. Silas paces the team, averaging 19.9 ppg on the season and 21.1 ppg in league games. Both rank second among MAC statistical leaders. Of Silas' 318 points on the season 108 of those have come from the free-throw line. Darion Anderson also averages double figures in scoring at 11.1 ppg and is the team's leading rebounder at 6.8 rpg. He also averages a team-leading 3.5 apg while collecting a team-most 22 steals. Along with Miami, Northern Illinois is also one of the league's top shot-blocking teams with Sean Kowal and Michael Fakuade accounting for 20 apiece on the season.

THE SERIES WITH NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Saturday marks the 36th all-time meeting between Miami and Northern Illinois with the RedHawks holding a 23-12 advantage in the series. The RedHawks have won the last five meetings, including an 80-52 win in Oxford last season. Northern Illinios' last win in the series was also its last win against the RedHawks in DeKalb, which was on Feb. 25, 2004, 62-54. The Huskies are 11-5 when facing the RedHawks in DeKalb.

UP NEXT: Miami returns home for three of its next four games, beginning with a 7 p.m. home game against Toledo on Feb. 10 to round out the RedHawks' stint against the West Division. After heading to Bowling Green for a 2 p.m. game on Sunday, Feb. 14, Miami hosts Akron at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17 and then hosts its ESPN BracketBuster game on Saturday, Feb. 20, facing Southeast Missouri State.

MIAMI DRAWS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE IN ESPN BRACKETBUSTER: The Miami University RedHawks will host the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks of the Ohio Valley Conference on Saturday, Feb. 20 as part of ESPN BracketBuster Saturday. The game will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader with Miami's women's basketball team hosting Buffalo at noon. It is the first meeting between the schools. The RedHawks have been on the road for the last three BracketBusters and have lost their last two BracketBuster matchups. Miami owns a 3-0 record at home in BracketBuster games.

MIAMI ISP SPORTS NETWORK: In its third year of its partnership with ISP Sports Marketing, the Miami ISP Sports Network continues its coverage of Miami men's basketball with a group of affiliates blanketing most of Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana. "The Voice of the RedHawks" Steve Baker delivers the play-by-play coverage, while Joe Barry provides color commentary. Tune in to one of Miami's game-day affiliates: WMOH-AM 1450 (Hamilton, OH), WPFB-FM 105.9 (Middletown, OH), WFMG-FM 101.3 (Richmond, IN), WONE-AM 980 (Dayton, OH).

COLES BREAKS MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE WIN MARK: With a 79-67 win against Ohio on Saturday, Jan. 16, Miami University Head Coach Charlie Coles broke the Mid-American Conference record for career league wins, which was previously held by former Toledo Head Coach Bob Nichols. The triumph over the Bobcats was Coles' 195th career MAC win with 143 of those coming during his time patrolling the Miami sidelines. Over his 20 years as a coach in the MAC (14 at Miami; 6 at Central Michigan) Coles has amassed a 199-135 league record.

BLOCK PARTY: The RedHawks have recorded 44 blocked shots in their last eight games and recorded eight against Kent State on Jan. 12 and again at Western Michigan on Feb. 2, which tie for sixth-most in a single game in program history. Over the last eight games, nine RedHawks have recorded blocked shots with junior guard/forward Antonio Ballard amassing 12, including a career-high three against Ohio (Jan. 16), sophomore forward/center Julian Mavunga posting 10 and senior center Adam Fletcher recording nine. Junior forward Nick Winbush has notched six during that stretch, while junior guard Rodney Haddix II and freshman guard Orlando Williams each have two and senior guard Kenny Hayes, sophomore guard Kramer Soderberg and freshman guard Allen Roberts each have one. Miami leads the MAC in blocked shots this season, averaging 3.73 per game. In league-only games Miami also leads the MAC, averaging 4.83 per game as a team, while Ballard ties for fourthth in league-only blocks per game (1.33) Fletcher ranks eighth (1.13) and Mavunga ties for ninth (1.11).

DOUBLE-TIME: Ten times this season Miami players have recorded double-doubles with sophomore forward/center Julian Mavunga recording five, which ties for second in the MAC.

Julian Mavunga	Bowling Green (Jan. 23): 11 pts; 11 rebs
			at Xavier (Dec. 23): 18 pts; 12 rebs
			Evansville (Nov. 28): 18 pts; 10 rebs
			vs. Nicholls State (11/21): 12 pts; 10 rebs
			vs. Louisiana Tech (11/20): 16 pts; 12 rebs
Adam Fletcher	at Akron (Jan. 20): 11 pts; 10 rebs
			Wright State (Dec. 13): 10 pts; 10 rebs
Antonio Ballard	at Western Michigan (Feb. 4): 10 pts; 10 rebs
			Ohio (Jan. 16): 11 pts; 13 rebs
Nick Winbush	Temple (Dec. 8): 10 pts; 10 rebs

SETTING THE "TONE": Junior guard/forward Antonio Ballard has been stepping up his production. The 6-foot-4 Ballard ties for second in MAC-only games in rebounding (8.1 rpg) and ties for fourth in blocked shots (1.33 bpg). He has had four double-figure rebounding efforts in the last eight games with a career-high 13 boards on Jan. 16 against Ohio and 11 rebounds against Kent State (Jan. 12) and at Ball State (Jan. 26) and 10 at Western Michigan (Feb. 2). Eight of his 11 rebounds against the Golden Flashes came over the final 25 minutes of play. Ballard did a little bit of everything against Bowling Green on Jan. 23, recording nine points, six rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocked shots in 37 minutes of action. He has recorded nine or more points in eight of Miami's last 13 games, including all six of his double-figure scoring efforts this season.

MINUTE MAN: Senior guard Kenny Hayes is averaging 35.95 minutes per game and leads the Mid-American Conference in minutes played. Ohio's D.J. Cooper ranks second at 34.68 minutes per game. Senior center Adam Fletcher ranks 22nd, averaging 28.71 minutes per game, while junior guard/forward Antonio Ballard ranks 23rd averaging 28.59 minutes per game and sophomore forward/center Julian Mavunga ranks 29th averaging 28.00 minutes per game. Hayes ranks second in the MAC in minutes played in MAC-only games, averaging 36.56 minutes per game, while Ballard is 4th (35.56), Fletcher is 13th (33.25) and Mavunga ties for 25th (29.78).

MINUTE MEN PART II: While several of the RedHawks rank among MAC statistical leaders in minutes played this season, Miami had three players log significant minutes at Western Michigan to help grind out the 56-54 win. With senior center Adam Fletcher sidelined due to injury, sophomore forward/center Julian Mavunga played all 40 minutes--a career high--against the Broncos, posting 14 points, seven boards, two assists and two blocked shots. Junior guard/forward Antonio Ballard notched 39 minutes, playing all 20 in the second half. Ballard recorded his third career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, adding two blocked shots and a steal to his tally. Senior guard Kenny Hayes played 38 minutes, including all 20 in the second half. Hayes led the RedHawks with 16 points and added five assists, five rebounds and a steal. The RedHawks had six players log 20 or more minutes against the Broncos with three others coming off the bench, playing a combined eight minutes.

IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD: Miami has been in all sorts of games on the road this season and finally earned its first true road win at Western Michigan on Thursday. Miami persevered to seize a gritty 56-54 win at Western Michigan to snap a 15-game losing streak on the road, dating back to Feb. 7 last season when the RedHawks defeated Toledo. It also was the first win for Miami at Western Michigan since the 1998-99 season.

DOUBLING UP: Four Miami players have combined to produce 13 double-figure rebounding efforts this season: Sophomore forward/center Julian Mavunga (6), junior guard/forward Antonio Ballard (4), senior center Adam Fletcher (2) and junior forward Nick Winbush (1).

FOR STARTERS: Freshman guard Allen Roberts got his first career start at Buffalo on Jan. 9 and has started each of the last four games. He became the fifth RedHawk this season to earn his first career start, joining freshman guard Orlando Williams, sophomore guard Kramer Soderberg, junior guard Rodney Haddix II and sophomore forward/center Julian Mavunga.

THEY COME IN TWO'S (AND FOUR'S): Ten times this season, junior forward Nick Winbush has scored in double figures, with the first six paired in back-to-back games. By scoring 13 points against Central Michigan (Jan. 28) and 11 points against Eastern Michigan (Jan. 30), Winbush reached double-figures in scoring in four-straight contests. Winbush scored in double figures in Miami's first two games (11 at Towson; 26 at Kentucky), then Nov. 22 at New Mexico (25) and Nov. 28 vs. Evansville (11) and again on Dec. 8 vs. Temple (10) and Dec. 10 at Cincinnati (13). He recorded 13 points against Bowling Green (Jan. 23) and tallied 10 points at Ball State (Jan. 26) leading into the Central Michigan game.

WORKING OVERTIME: Miami played its first overtime game of the season on Jan. 12, as the RedHawks battled back against Kent State, marking the fifth time the two teams have played extra-minute contests. On Jan. 26, Miami played its second extra-minutes contest, going to double-overtime with Ball State. It was the 11th time the two teams went to overtime with Miami dropping to 7-4 in overtime contests with the Cardinals. Miami has played in 106 overtime games all-time, moving its record to 65-42 in overtime games. Last season the RedHawks played three overtime games, all coming in regular-season conference play, and won two of their three overtime contests.

ROARING 20s: Eight times this season Miami players have amassed 20 or more points in a game. Senior guard Kenny Hayes is the most recent to reach the 20-point plateau, hitting it on the nose vs. Central Michigan (Jan. 28) for his fourth 20-or-more point game this year. Hayes also had 24 points at Xavier (Dec. 23), 21 points at Colorado (Jan. 5) and 23 points against Nicholls State (Nov. 21). Junior guard Rodney Haddix II also had a career-high 21 points against Nicholls State. Senior center Adam Fletcher tallied a career-high 21 points at Buffalo (Jan. 9). Additionally, junior forward Nick Winbush twice scored 20-or-more points. Winbush recorded a career-high 26 points at Kentucky (Nov. 16) and 25 points at New Mexico (Nov. 22).

MAC NUGGETS: Five Miami players rank among Mid-American Conference statistical leaders. Senior guard Kenny Hayes ranks 7th in scoring (14.0), 12th in assist/turnover ratio (1.17) and 15th in assists (3.09). Junior forward Nick Winbush is 30th in scoring (9.3), 7th in 3-point field-goal percentage (.413), 12th in made 3-pointers (1.82), 15th in blocked shots (0.73) and 13th in field-goal percentage (.439). Sophomore forward/center Julian Mavunga is 26th in scoring (9.6), 11th in rebounding (6.3), 6th in defensive rebounds (4.86) and 7th in blocked shots (0.95). Junior guard/forward Antonio Ballard ranks 14th in rebounding (5.9) and 13th in defensive rebounds (4.09), while senior center Adam Fletcher ties for 15th in offensive rebounds (2.05).

WINBUSH FOR THREE: Junior forward Nick Winbush drilled eight 3-pointers at Kentucky, which ties for third on Miami's single-game charts and set a then-Rupp Arena record for 3-pointers by an opponent. Winbush was an impressive 6-for-6 from beyond the arc in the first half and was 8-for-10 from 3-point range for the game. His eight treys tie for the 13th most nationally made by a player in a game this season. He led all scorers with a career-high 26 points. Through 21 games this season, Winbush is 40-of-97 from beyond the arc, nailing 41.2 percent of his 3-point attempts.

REDHAWKS SET 3-POINT RECORD: Draining 15 3-pointers at Kentucky on Nov. 16, Miami set a program record for 3-point field goals. It ties for the 17th most made in a game nationally this season. The RedHawks went 15-of-26 from beyond the arc, receiving long-range field goals from junior forward Nick Winbush, junior guard Rodney Haddix II and guard/forward Antonio Ballard, senior guard Kenny Hayes and freshman guard Orlando Williams.

A MIAMI WIN WOULD ...
•	Be Miami's sixth-straight win in the series with Northern Illinois.
•	Give Miami four-straight wins for the first time this season.
•	Be Northern Illinois' sixth-straight loss.

A MIAMI LOSS WOULD ...
•	Make NIU 6-5 at home this season.
•	Be Northern Illinois' first win against the RedHawks since 2004.
•	Snap a three-game win streak for the RedHawks.