2016-17 MAC Men’s Basketball Recap: IUPUI Jaguars vs. Miami RedHawks

The Miami RedHawks (5-5) picked up a big non-conference win Saturday as it held on to down the IUPUI Jaguars (3-7) 71-61. It was a tale of two halves as each team scored 40+ points in a period and held the other under 30. The RedHawks simply had more production than the Jaguars as the home team had five players score double figures while IUPUI had three such players.

Miami started off on the right foot as it started the game on a 13-0 run as Logan McClane and Rod Mills Jr. each pitched in four points. The ‘Hawks coasted from that point until halftime as they made 51.6% of their shots from the field as well as six threes. The team’s defense certainly showed up in the first 20 minutes with 10 defensive rebounds, 11 turnovers forced, two steals and two blocks.

Michael Weathers again carried the Red and White with seven points and three assists as well as a block, while Marcus Weathers led the way with 13 points and two boards off the bench. The rest of the team stepped up a bit as McClane, Abdoulaye Harouna, and Dion Wade each recorded six points in the half. Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ Matt O’Leary led the team with eight points as the team shot 44% from the floor.

IUPUI made a late rally in the second half as they cut the deficit 62-61 with 3:41 left in the game, but a three-pointer from Mills and a Michael Weathers layup got Miami out of that jam for the time being. The Jags managed to tie the game up in the final minute of play, and Mills again answered for the RedHawks with a made jumper with 19 seconds left as they held on for their fifth win of the season.

The Jaguars ramped up their defensive pressure in the second half as they ended the game with 17 turnovers forced, nine steals, and six blocks. Despite the second half slump where MU was outscored 40-29, the home team was able to make enough plays down the stretch to come away with a win over a team that beat it a season ago.

Michael Weathers had yet another impressive stat line with 15 points, seven assists, five rebounds, a block and a steal, while McClane also ended up with 15 points as well as two boards, two assists, and a steal. Mills had a strong all-around game as well as he went off for 11 points, five rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal. It didn’t hurt the ‘Hawks in this game, but they have to do better down low as eight offensive rebounds in a whole game isn’t going to cut it once they enter league play.

Miami returns to action on December 18 when it heads south to take on UCF.