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Players scramble for a loose ball during Miami's 84-77 win Saturday over Bowling Green. Below, Julian Mavunga gets fouled while putting up a shot. Bottom left, Orlando Williams, who registered a career-high 26 points, drives the lane. Photos by Mike Smith.

“We could count a lot of things that we didn’t do down the stretch, but I’m not going to do that,” said Coles, whose team climbed back into a tie for first place in the MAC East after Ohio defeated Kent State Saturday evening.  “The fact that we got the victory today, I think, is important. How we got it, I don’t know if that is as important. We backed in just a little, but you’re allowed to back in.”

While the RedHawks may have backed into their latest win, the Falcons might still be considered in reverse. It was the fifth consecutive loss for a BG team that won six of its first eight conference games.

The Falcons certainly didn’t lack for effort Saturday as they tried to pull out a victory in a building where they last won in the 2001-02 season.

Miami led by 15 points following a Quinten Rollins steal and layup at 9:22. But the hosts got sloppy, missing several layups (including two dunks) and free throws that might have allowed MU to pull away.

It was still a double digit lead (10 points) with 2:11 remaining. However, Bowling Green combined several Miami miscues with their own good shooting to draw within a bucket (79-77) with 38 seconds left. Miami made 5-of-8 free throws the rest of the way, and BG missed all three field goal tries.

Coles noted his squad got just four free throw attempts in a 62-53 loss at Bowling Green Jan. 16. With the league’s top free throw percentage (.745) team at his disposal, he was determined to get back to the line in the second matchup against the Falcons.

It was mission accomplished for Miami as the RedHawks cashed in on 27-of-36 (75 percent) charity tosses. Mavunga made 10-of 12 at the line on the way to 22 points, along with 11 rebounds, for his second consecutive double-double.

Nick Winbush also registered a double-double with 16 points and 13 boards. Coles noted the senior struggled from behind the arc Saturday and also against Akron Wednesday. But he credited Winbush with some major contributions during the Falcons frenzied rally in the final minutes. “Nick was there at the end like he always is,” Coles said. “He got some big rebounds at the end (and) he blocked McElroy’s shot when we finally got a stop on them.”

Offensively, the RedHawks biggest contributor was something of a surprise. Sophomore guard Orlando Williams, who reached double figures just once in the previous four games, erupted for a career-high 26 points.

“I’ve just been in the gym every day, because I know I’ve been struggling with my game and my overall shot,” Williams said.
“The player of the game, as far as I was concerned, was Orlando Williams,” Coles said. “He’s been playing bad (but) Orlando came out today, and he showed us … that you don’t have to worry about (him). He had his best college game.”

Coles continued, “To me, that’s courage. You’ve been playing bad. The coaches are mumbling about you, and now you shoot 8-for-9 (from the field) and 5-for-6 from behind the three. We couldn’t have done it without him.”

Williams also played a part in another surprise. Bowling Green entered Saturday ranked first in the MAC and ninth nationally in steals (9.2 per game overall, 8.69 per MAC game). Miami, by contrast, was last in the MAC (4.46 per MAC game). Williams, however, had three picks and Rollins registered six steals as MU had a 10-5 advantage over BG in steals.

“We turned the tables on them,” Coles said, adding, “‘Q’ did a good job defensively. … I’m glad to have him back.”

Rollins, the first freshman to start an MU season opener since 2003-04, played 32 minutes in his second game back after missing nine games with injuries.”

Overall, Miami hit 56 percent from the field while building up a 42-33 halftime lead. It dropped to 40.7 percent, including 2-of-7 (28.6 percent) behind the arc over the last 20 minutes.

Bowling Green connected on 48.1 percent from the floor before the break and dropped to 40.7 percent in the second half. However, the Falcons’ late flurry of treys gave them 7-of-14 in the final period after a 1-for-4 mark out of the gate.

A’uston Calhoun paced BG with 21 points. He sank 3-of-5 threes and 8-of-18 overall. Dee Brown added 17 points and Scott Thomas netted 14.

While the remaining Falcons schedule consists of tough matchups with Kent State (Tuesday) and Buffalo, both those games are on the home hardwood of Anderson Arena in Bowling Green.

Miami, meanwhile, flies to Buffalo for a Wednesday game before closing the regular season against rival Ohio at home (Saturday, 7 p.m.).

“Next week is crucial. Both teams we’re playing are capable of winning the tournament,” said Coles, who appreciates the position his relatively young team is in, especially after losing senior standout Antonio Ballard Jan. 27.

“I give my team credit,” he said. “We’ve had to scrap and scrounge all year. … We’ve won 10 league games with two left, and we only won nine last year. We’ve still got a chance for this league crown.”