Feb. 10, 2002

THE GAME
In the thick of its grueling five-game, eight-day stretch, Miami (10-12, 7-4 Mid-American Conference) hosts Ohio (13-7, 8-4 MAC) at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the second of its two-straight home contests. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio. Overcoming an 11-point deficit, the RedHawks rebounded to capture a 64-54 win over Toledo on Saturday to preserve their pristine league record at home (5-0) and extend their string of home MAC wins to eight. Bolstered by a 56.7 percent first-half shooting effort, Ohio upended West Division leader Ball State, 85-71, in Athens. Both Miami and Ohio suffered just four league losses and are battling for second in the East Division. Ohio and Bowling Green tie for second with 8-4 marks (.667), while Miami sits just behind with a 7-4 record (.636). Ohio topped Miami in the earlier meeting in Athens, 85-61. Brandon Hunter leads the Bobcats with 18.0 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game, and scored 30 against the Cardinals on Saturday. Sonny Johnson, brother of Miami's Juby Johnson, comes off the bench to average 16.7 ppg, while Steve Esterkamp averages 13.3 ppg. Alex Shorts, who has been relatively quiet in league play for the RedHawks this season, had two strong efforts last week to average 17.0 ppg in 19.5 minutes of play off the bench, hitting 77.8 percent of his field goals. Shorts leads the team, averaging 13.9 ppg, and has hit 22 successive free throws. Danny Horace paces Miami on the boards, grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game.

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