Jan. 30, 2007

Box Score

Oxford, Ohio - Miami (OH) senior forwards Nathan Peavy and Tim Pollitz combined for 37 points and 14 rebounds to help lead the host RedHawks to the 62-59 Mid-American Conference victory over Northern Illinois at Millett Hall on Tuesday evening.

"Our players certainly deserved better," NIU head coach Rob Judson said. "To go through the adversity that we've gone through and take a hard trip to Miami and play a very good MAC basketball team on their home court. We certainly deserve better."

Peavy finished with a team-best 19 points and eight rebounds, while Pollitz chipped in 18 points and six boards. Four of Peavy's points came in a key 6-2 MU run over the final 1:51 to help secure the win for the RedHawks.   

With the victory, Miami improves to 9-11 on the campaign and 5-3 in MAC play, while the Huskies fall to 4-16 overall and 1-7 in conference action.

NIU senior guard Mike McKinney (Evanston, Ill.) topped the Huskies with 20 points, including four three-pointers. Junior point guard Ryan Paradise (Naperville, Ill.) added 15 points, while senior center James Hughes (Silvis, Ill.) came off the bench to post six points and 11 rebounds.

Hughes' final bucket of the game came off an inbounds lob play with 2:34 left in the contest, giving NIU a 57-56 advantage.

Peavy answered with a lob play of his own, converting the assist from Doug Penno, giving the RedHawks the 58-57 lead with 1:51 left in the contest.  

NIU was unable to convert on the following possession and was whistled for a loose ball foul, sending Peavy to the line for two shots that he would knock down, extending MU's lead to 60-57.

Huskie sophomore guard Quintan Lipkins (Houston, Texas) quickly drove the lane and was fouled. Lipkins drained both charity tosses, narrowing Miami's lead to 60-59 with 1:15 left.

The Huskies forced a Miami turnover on the RedHawks next possession as Michael Bramos was whistled for a traveling violation with 14 seconds remaining.

Judson put the ball in McKinney's hands, but the senior guard was unable to knock down the winning lay-up with five seconds left, securing the win for Miami. 

 "Miami made some plays down the stretch," Judson said. "I was pleased with the way our defense got a stop when we needed to get a stop. This group is going to continue to fight, continue to practice. We're going to go to Buffalo and will look forward to go out and compete again."

NIU will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, as they travel to New York to square off with Buffalo for a 1 p.m. (CST) tip-off.

                                                          --NIU--