The Miami University men’s basketball team held off a second-half push from Bellarmine for an 80-73 win Saturday at Millett Hall in Oxford, improving to 2-0 on the young season, according to Bellarmine University Athletics and the Associated Press. Three RedHawks — Kyle Waltz, Justin Kirby and Almar Atlason — scored 15 points apiece to lead a balanced Miami attack.
Miami led 36-31 at halftime and, according to the Associated Press, took the lead for good with 11:07 left in the first half and never trailed again. Waltz came off the bench to score his 15 points with seven rebounds, while Kirby went 5-for-8 from the floor and 3-for-5 from three-point range with six rebounds, the AP reported.
Bellarmine refused to fold after the break. Jacob Wassler scored three straight baskets early in the second half, Kenyon Goodin added a tip-in to cut the margin to 43-40, and a basket by Michael Gizzi made it 45-42, according to Bellarmine University Athletics. Each time the Knights closed in, Miami answered, and the RedHawks converted at the free-throw line in the closing moments to preserve the win.
Miami hit 10 three-pointers and went 22-of-26 from the free-throw line, Bellarmine Athletics reported. Bellarmine shot 45.5 percent from the floor, scored 50 points in the paint and made all 10 of its free throws, but the Knights fell to 0-3 despite the strong interior showing.
Tyler Doyle led Bellarmine with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, according to the Associated Press. Goodin finished with 16 points, Sam Donald added 12 points and four assists, and Wassler scored 11 for the Knights.
For Miami, the 2-0 start is built on balance: three players shared the team scoring lead Saturday, the bench produced its top rebounder in Waltz, and the RedHawks’ free-throw shooting — a perfect weapon late in close games — closed the door on a Bellarmine team that dominated the paint but could not get over the hump on the road.
Miami now heads out on the road, traveling to Evansville next Saturday, Nov. 14, according to the Associated Press. Bellarmine returns home to host Franklin on Wednesday as the Knights continue searching for their first win of the season.
Photo: Adam Sonnett, CC BY-SA