 MIAMI 71, SAGINAW VALLEY STATE 61 Two Redhawk players reached double figures and both posted double-doubles. Julian Mavunga led the way with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Josh Sewell netted 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Quinten Rollins and Jon Harris were just off double figures with nine points apiece.
Edwards, a 6-6 forward who had 21 points in 40 minutes against No. 14 Xavier Friday (a 66-60 loss), had four fouls and played just 23 minutes against the Cardinals. The time also reflected Miami’s attempt to matchup with SVSU’s three-guard offense.
Junior guard Chris Webb led scorers in the contest with 19 points. His night reflected the Cardinals performance as a whole. He made 10-of-11 shots at the free throw line and was 4-of-11 from the field (1-of-5 on treys).
Saginaw Valley (1-3), hit 19-of-53 shots (35.9 percent) from the field overall and was 6-of-24 (25 percent) in the first half. Given that Miami (2-1) connected on 50 percent (26-of-52) from the field and had a dominating 43-24 advantage over the Division 2 Cardinals on the boards, hitting shots from the floor figured as a key to any upset bid.
The hosts, however, were able to convert at the line; they made 20-of-22 shots (90.9 percent) from the stripe. They also benefitted from 20 turnovers by the RedHawks, who faltered against Xavier in a turnover-plagued second half.
SVSU guard Greg Foster scored on a layup off the opening tip, but the Cardinals could not score another point until a Brett Beland layup and free throw at 12:36. In between, Miami got a total 14 points out of six different players.
Saginaw Valley netted two jump shots during the first 20 minutes. The remainder were layups (off fast breaks or drives) and free throws. While they were still down by 10 at the half, they seemed to have weathered the opening dry spell.
Miami went on another run to start the second half, scoring six straight points to open up a 39-22 lead following Sewell’s basket at 17:55. Webb broke the run for SVSU with his only three of the game at 17:47. The Cardinals made just three of 24 from behind the arc on the night.
Quinten Rollins converted an old-fashioned three at 15:27 to give MU its biggest lead of the evening, 47-27, before the Cardinals began to peck away at the margin.Two Webb free throws at 2:50 allowed SVSU to cut Miami’s lead to eight points, 62-54, with a pair of charity tosses at 2:06, but that was as close as Saginaw Valley could get the rest of the way.
NOTES:
- Brett Beland (10) and Fugate (12) joined Webb in double figures for SVSU. Jay Thomas led the Cardinals on the boards with six caroms.
- The game was a reunion of sorts for the coaching staffs. SVSU Head Coach Frankie Smith was an assistant for Miami Head Coach Charlie Coles. The Cardinals staff also includes Chris Coles, son of the Miami coach. The SVSU athletic director is Mike Watson, who also worked in the Miami athletic department before joining the Cardinals program.
- Miami had 20 turnovers in the game. Rollins had five and Mavunga four to lead the way. SVST registered 10.
- While the Cardinals made 91 percent of their free throws (20-of-22), MU converted 13-of-18 (72 percent). Six of the Miami free throw points came in the final 2:15.
- As was the case at Xavier, Miami forward Julian Mavunga was most productive scoring after intermission. He had six in the first half against SVSU and finished with 18.
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