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Miami's Drew Magee tries to get a shot off versus Toledo. The Rockets edged MU 63-61 Wednesday in Oxford. Below, Rian Pearson drives against Jon Harris. Bottom right, Julian Mavunga tries to score over DeLino Dear. Photos by Mike Smith.

What was once an intimidating date on opponent’s schedules may soon be known as a date with opportunity as the RedHawks stumbled to a second consecutive home loss and third setback in three league games at Millett Hall.

“That’s two Wednesdays in a row that we’ve allowed the other team to out-play us,” said Miami head coach Charlie Coles, who saw his team lose for the sixth time in seven games and drop to 1-5 in league play. The latest loss not only came on home hardwood, but against a team that itself owned just one MAC victory entering the contest. Toledo raised its record to 10-10 overall and 2-4 MAC. Miami is now 5-14 (1-5 MAC).

Coles noted that for some reason, his squad is playing better on the road than at home.  Indeed, the RedHawks recently lost close road games against Kent State and Ohio – both quality MAC East opponents.  Road wins are always hard to come by in MAC play, but recently MU seems unable to hold serve on the home court.

How bad is it?

The “lowest point I may have had in college coaching was tonight,” said a disappointed Coles, who is trying to fashion wins without the help of three potential starters who are out for the season.”

Much of the RedHawks troubles have come in the second half of games, but the Rockets jumped on Miami from the very start.  Dominique Buckley’s 3-point goal capped an 8-0 run that invigorated the visitors.  “Early on, they got their confidence, and from there they just took off,” Miami senior forward Julian Mavunga said.

Toledo expanded its led to 14 points when Rian Pearson hit a jumper with 2:04 remaining in the half, but Miami scored eight straight points to end the frame. Six came from freshman guard Brian Sullivan, who tallied 13 points on the night, including nine in the first stanza. Josh Sewell had six for MU, but didn’t score the rest of the evening.

While Miami hit 36 percent of its field goal attempts before the break, Toledo connected on 46.7 percent .  Much of the damage was done inside – either on drives or following offensive rebounds. UT outscored Miami in the paint, 20-6, and had a 19-15 edge rebounding.

Rian Pearson , a 6-4 sophomore guard formerly with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, led Toledo with 11 first half points. He added another 12 in the second period for a game-high 23 points and also finished with 10 rebounds to register a double-double.

“Pearson hurt us so bad. We had nobody to guard him,” said Coles, whose squad is struggling on both ends of the court.

Despite the late Miami run, Toledo owned a 33-27 halftime advantage. But the RedHawks rallied to forge two ties in the opening minutes of the final frame.

The Rockets responded to twice build up a nine-point lead, with the last coming on a pair of Pearson free throws at 4.46. Miami then went on a 9-2 run – starting with a Sullivan trey, followed by six points by Mavunga.

Pearson, however, had a big put-back before the last Mavunga basket, which made it a 60-58 game in favor of Toledo.  Dennis hit his big trey from the left side at the 1:00 mark. That gave him 17 points on the evening.

Jon Harris stroked a 3-pointer for Miami to bring the RedHawks within two at 63-61, and MU gained possession again with :06 left when Mavunga came up with a steal. He dribbled down court and passed to the wing. After another pass, it ended up with Harris. Dennis, however, was right there and swiped the ball away to end the contest.

Toledo connected on 12-of-24 (40 percent) in the second half and 26-of-54 (48.1) percent for the game. The Rockets held a 32-20 advantage in points in the paint and 35-26 edge in rebounds.

Miami made 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) I the second half and 10-of-49 (40.8 percent) overall.  The RedHawks, often operating against a zone, hit 8-of-23 (34.8 percent) beyond the arc.  Toledo was 4-of-13 (30,8 percent) from long range.

MU hits the road for a game against Western Michigan Saturday (4 p.m.). Toledo will host Kent State (7 p.m.).