Late Run Allows Ohio State to Down Miami, 72-59

The Miami-Ohio Redhawks men’s basketball team pulled to within three points with six minutes to go in the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, but a late 10-0 run helped lead the Buckeyes to a 72-59 victory. Miami concludes non-conference play at 7-6, while OSU improves to 11-4.

Junior guard Darrian Ringo led the RedHawks’ offense with 16 points on Saturday. Currently ranking in the top 10 nationally in each category, he also contributed eight assists and four steals.

Sophomore forward Bam Bowman was instrumental in Miami’s comeback attempt, draining a career-high five 3-pointers. He finished with 15 points.

The Miami defense was strong to begin the first half. Ohio State started the contest shooting 3-for-16 over the first 10:30 of the game. Despite three-pointers from freshman guard Nike Sibande and redshirt junior guard Jake Wright, the RedHawks were unable to take advantage as their shots were not falling either. A put back dunk by Sibande off a miss pulled Miami to within 12-9 with 10:28 to go.

The Buckeyes went on a 7-2 run to push their lead to 19-11 at the 8:19 mark. Bowman answered with back-to-back three-pointers, while Ringo took to the ball coast-to-coast for a layup that pulled the ‘Hawks to within two at 21-19 with 6:21 remaining in the half.

OSU pushed the advantage to 28-21 before another Wright triple got Miami’s offense moving again. A jumper by Sibande made it a four-point game before the Buckeyes hit a three-pointer late in the clock. Wright had a three-point attempt from half court go in and out at the buzzer as Ohio State took a 35-28 lead into the half.

A jumper by Wright closed Miami to within five to begin the second half, but the Buckeyes answered with a 14-2 run over the next five minutes to build their largest lead at 49-32 with 14:13 to go.

Miami began its comeback when Ringo stole the ball and took it in for an uncontested layup. After an OSU miss, Ringo found Bowman for the three pointer. Ringo then stole the ball again, finding Sibande for a dunk that closed the team to within 10 at 49-39. A couple of possessions later Bowman three that made it a seven-point game. After a Buckeye free throw, a three-pointer by Sibande made it 50-45 with 10:07 to go and completed a 13-1 run.

Ohio State got the lead back to nine at 56-47 at the 8:15 mark. The RedHawks continued to fight when Ringo found Bowman for another open three-pointer. A dunk by Sibande pulled Miami to within four. After a Buckeye free throw, a layup by freshman forward Dalonte Brown made it a three-point game with 6:03 left.

That would be as close as the RedHawks could get as they went cold over the next three minutes and Ohio State went on a 13-0 run to make it 67-54 with 3:02 to go. Ringo ended the dry spell with a layup, but the Buckeyes went on to take a 72-59 win.

Sibande finished with 14 points for Miami, while Wright scored eight. The ‘Hawks held a 38-36 advantage on the boards over the Buckeyes. Ohio State was led by Keita Bates-Diop with 19 points.

Miami begins Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday when it travels to Bowling Green. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN3.