MBB to Face Miami at Stroh

And we're back.

Really looking forward to the game tomorrow...coming off the big win, tough match-up, another traditional rival.  Hopefully a good crowd.  Only two home games left.

And hopefully whatever demons BG chased into the cold night in Oxford in January are still out in the cold.

Miami is 7-7, one game behind BG in the standings.  Since BG beat them at Millet in January, they are 5-4 in MAC play. They have lost 3 of their last 5 MAC games but blew CMU out by 28 at Millet in their last game.

Their only win over a top-tier MAC team was a good one...Akron in Oxford.  On the other end of the spectrum, they have lost to NIU and WMU, twice.

The previous game went to BG in Oxford.  Miami had a 6-point lead with 4 minutes left to play. BG had been pretty flat heading into that part of the game, but picked up the pace there, and closed on a 12-5 run, including a Marcus Hill special to land the dagger.

The game followed a pretty common pattern.  BG was outshot, but had an edge on turnovers and on the boards and a huge edge at the line, ending up +9 and leaving Travis Steele complaining about the officials.

Hill had 23 on 13 shots.  Agee double-doubled and Thomas had 14.

7'0" FR Reece Potter had a career night, scoring 17.  He's only been in double figures twice since then. Mirambeaux came off the bench and had 12.  He is their leading scorer but takes a ton of shots.

They are #6 in the MAC in offense. They shoot well, take care of the ball and are decent at getting to the line, but are last on the offensive boards.

They are #3 in the MAC in defense. They are #3 on the shot and #4 in forcing turnovers...and slightly below average on the defensive boards and keeping opponents off the line.  

Frankly, with their stats, they should be better than 7-7.  Part of that is probably the big win over CMU.

It would be great to see BG generate some momentum.  It won't be easy coming off that big W on Friday, but they've had an extra day off and seen what they can do.  Go Falcons!