Mavunga, RedHawks get to line in beating Bobcats
Miami makes 30 of 33 free throws, ends Ohio winning streak
By: Lonnie McMillan / Contributor
Saturday, March 5, 2011
OXFORD, Ohio – Cold shooting plagued Ohio as Miami put an end to the Bobcats’ five-game winning streak by taking the regular season finale, 76-66, at Millet Hall on Friday night.
The Bobcats shot just 37.7 percent, while Julian Mavunga dominated for the RedHawks with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Nick Winbush also had a double-double with 14 points – all of them in the first half – and 10 boards.
Ivo Baltic, with 18 points and nine rebounds, and DeVaughn Washington, with 12 points and nine boards, were just shy of double-doubles for the Bobcats. Tommy Freeman had 13 points, and D.J. Cooper scored 14 points with just four assists and five turnovers.
Miami (16-15, 11-5 Mid-American Conference) led almost start to finish, taking the lead for good on two Winbush free throws with 14:37 left on the clock in the first half.
After trailing by as many as nine, Ohio (17-14, 9-7 MAC) got to within four on a pair of Freeman free throws, but an 8-2 Miami run to close the half gave it a 36-26 lead.
Two more Freeman free throws cut the RedHawks’ deficit to six points in the second half, but they went on a 6-0 run to go up by 12 on a Mavunga layup with 14:15 remaining.
Miami’s lead was as big as 54-38 on two Josh Sewell free throws with 9:00 to go, and Ohio did not cut the lead to single digits again until the final minute.
The RedHawks shot 40 percent, but sank 30 of 33 free throws. Mavunga was 15 of 17. The Bobcats were 22 of 29 at the foul line.
Ohio connected on just 4 of 18 3-pointers and missed its first nine tries behind the arc.
Despite both team’s strong post presence in the game, offensive boards were not a huge factor, as Ohio had eight to Miami’s seven. The Bobcats had 10 turnovers to nine for the RedHawks.
Quentin Rollins made all six of his free throw tries and finished with 15 points for Miami. He also had five assists.
The RedHawks clinched the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye in the MAC tournament. Depending on the outcome of Saturday’s games, the Bobcats could still earn a bye as the No. 4 seed or host a first-round tournament game Tuesday night.