Tag it:

?

Josh Sewell gets caught up in traffick. Sewell, again at bottom and Jon Harris, middle left, each chipped in 12 points for Miami. Photos by Mike Smith.

Belmont, a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, is highly regarded and brought a 7-3 record into the matchup against Miami. Among the Bruins three defeats was a 77-76 loss to Duke to open the campaign. The other two losses were narrow setbacks against Middle Tennessee State. Belmont was ranked sixth in the Dec. 12 CollegeInsiders.com Mid-Major poll.

The Bruins had also beaten Miami last year in the only previous meeting between the two schools. Much of that squad, which won 30 games and made it into the NCAA tournament, returned this year.  That gave coach Rick Byrd, now in his 26th year at the Bruins helm, a solid foundation for more success this season.

Miami, on the other hand, has struggled, and last week’s loss to Wright State at home, was particularly disappointing.
“After last Saturday, I didn’t know what to expect,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “I didn’t know if we were ready to play that kind of game yet.”

Much of the problem has been scoring. Although senior forward Julian Mavunga entered the week leading the MAC in scoring, a young squad (missing three potential starters for the season) had struggled mightily on offense.

For whatever reason, the RedHawks offense got healthy against Belmont. Mavunga led the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds to notch his fifth double-double of the season (and 19th of his career). But MU also got double-figure scoring from sophomores Jon Harris (12), Josh Sewell (12) and Quinten Rollins (11).

Rollins provided Miami with one of its most important baskets of the night with 1:06 remaining. Belmont, down nine at the 6:54 mark, had rallied to within two points at 58-56. Rollins pulled down a rebound from a missed three-point try by Ian Clark and raced down court, eventually driving to the rim for a layup.

“That was a big (play) – maybe the biggest one of the night,” said Coles, noting that a four point lead allows better play on the defensive end. “Quinten got to the basket, and that is a good thing for him.”

Rollins was fouled on the play but missed, leaving MU up by four.  The hosts built their lead back to seven and made enough free throws down the stretch to gain the victory.

Both teams started out slowly, but Belmont owned a 6-0 lead after a layup by Drew Hanlen at 16:10 of the first half.
Miami found the range and went ahead, 9-8 on a layup by Mavunga at the 14:00 mark.

Kerron Johnson’s layup at 6:52 gave Belmont it’s last lead, 17-16. MU then went on a 12-0 run with points from four different players. It was a 31-26 Miami lead at the break.

Jackson’s 17 points on the day led Belmont and tied Mavunga with game-high honors. J.J. Mann (13) and Ian Clark were also in double figures.

MU connected on 40.7 percent of its shots from the floor (11-of-27) and was 4-of-12 on treys in the first half. Belmont, which has ranked among the NCAA’s top 25 in three-point field goals per game every year but one since becoming a division I member in 1996-97, connected on 2-of-8 from behind the line in the first half.

The Bruins were 9-of-20 from the field before intermission. Miami made 5-of-5 from the line, while Belmont hit 6-of-8.

The RedHawks extended their lead to a game-high 13 (50-37) after a Drew McGee layup at 9:37 of the second half.

“I thought Drew McGee played well. He’s been doing that in practice. … We’ve got to find ways to get him the ball,” Coles said.

Belmont needed to get things turned around, and junior guard Kerron Johson became the catalyst with a personal six-point run.

Buckets by Brandon Baker and Justin Mann reduced it to three, and the Bruins twice got as close as two points before Miami salted the game away at the line. The RedHawks converted 15-of-23 from the free throw line in the second half.
“We feel good about the win. Hopefully, we can build off of this,” Coles said. “Our guys are giving a full effort. These kids are really playing (hard).”

NOTES
- Belmont coach Rick Byrd, who has been at the helm 26 years, got an early exit when he reacted to a play and officials eventually gave him two technicals. Two techs on bench personnel lead to the ejection of the coach.
- Miami’s Bill Edwards has a wrist injury and is out indefinitely.
- Julian Mavunga took just seven shots from the field, making two. Including one trey. He was 12-of-16 from the line.
- Coles was pleased with several statistical areas: 1.  MU outscored Belmont 20-12 in points off the bench. 2. Miami got to the free throw line 28 times, converting 20. 3. The RedHawks had just 12 turnovers.