Jan. 30, 2008

Box Score |  Quotes

Miami (OH) 66, Northern Illinois 51

DeKalb, Ill. - Miami (OH) junior guard Kenny Hayes and senior forward Tim Pollitz combined for 44 points, as the visiting RedHawks picked up the 66-51 Mid-American Conference victory over the NIU Men's Basketball team at the NIU Convocation Center on Wednesday night.

Hayes finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting, while Pollitz notched 19 points and seven rebounds on the evening.

With the victory, Miami (OH) improves to 9-10 overall and 3-4 in MAC play, while the Huskies drop to 5-14 on the campaign and 2-5 in conference action.

NIU freshman guard Darion Anderson (Chicago, Ill./Carver Military Academy) led the Huskies with 16 points, while senior forward Michael Hart (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook/Carthage College) added eight points and a season-best seven rebounds.

Miami (OH) brought their trademark defense to the Convo Center, as the RedHawks held NIU to 35.8% (19-for-53) from the field and 7.7% (1-for-13) shooting from three-point range. The Huskies, who entered Wednesday's contest shooting 75.0% from the free throw line in MAC play, were only able to knock down 57.1% (12-for-21) of their attempts.

"We played well enough defensively to have a chance to win, but sometimes you've got to make shots," NIU head men's basketball coach Ricardo Patton said. "Anytime you play a team that's physical, they prevent you from cutting and getting to your spots.  They prevent you from doing what you want to do.  The game is not designed to be played that way.  If you allow the game to be played that way, the bigger, stronger team is going to win." 

NIU is back in action on Saturday, February 2, as they welcome Ohio to the NIU Convocation Center for `Alumni Day' at 2 p.m. The `Alumni Game' is slated for an 11 a.m. tip-off.

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