OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami men's basketball team will continue its a four-game home stretch Wednesday night when it, hosts Massachusetts at 7 p.m.
Miami will try for its third straight home win when it takes on the Minutemen at Millett Hall, where the Redhawks have scored at least 80 points in each game.
UMass, which has won five games in a row, will be a tough challenge for Miami. The Minutemen are also a perfect 3-0 in true road games this season.
Below is a series of game notes provided by the Sports Information Department at Miami.
When: Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.
Where: Millett Hall - Oxford, Ohio
Live Video Stream: Miami All-Access (subscription) on www.MURedHawks.com
Radio: Miami IMG Sports Network (WMOH 1450 Hamilton; WFMG 101.3 Richmond; WONE 980 Dayton; WDBZ 1230 Cincinnati)
HOME SWEET HOME: Miami head coach John Cooper often talks about importance of protecting your home court, and the RedHawks have done that thus far in 2012-13 with a 4-0 record at Millett Hall. Four RedHawks are averaging double figures in Millett Hall, led by freshman guard Reggie Johnson's 17.3 ppg. As a team, the RedHawks have shot 48.9 percent from the field, 44.9 from 3-point range, averaged 10.0 treys, out-rebounded opponents by a 1.0 margin and posted a +6.8 turnover margin on their home court. Miami is averaging 80.5 ppg and allowing its opponents just 62.2 ppg in home games.
HEATING UP AT HOME: Three times this season Miami has scored 80 or more points, all coming in Millett Hall. The RedHawks posted an 80-54 win over Grambling State in their home opener. In its last two games, Miami has set season highs for scoring with an 82-70 win over UIC on Dec. 22 and an 84-67 win against Wilmington on Dec. 30.
ABOUT THE MINUTEMEN: Massachusetts enters Wednesday's game with an 8-3 overall record and has won its last five games, including a 64-59 win at Northern Illinois on Dec. 29. Three Minutemen are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Chaz Williams' 16.1 ppg. Jesse Morgan follows at 15.0 ppg, and Terrell Vinson adds 12.6 ppg. Williams ranks 11th nationally in assists, averaging 7.1 per game. He also ranks 37th nationally in 3-point field goals, knocking down 2.91 per game. Cady Lalanne leads the team on the boards, averaging 5.4 rpg. The Minutemen average 72.9 ppg, but, despite winning eight of their 11 games, give up 73.5 ppg.
SERIES WITH MASSACHUSETTS: Wednesday marks the first meeting between Miami and Massachusetts. This is Miami's second meeting with an Atlantic 10 team this season having dropped an 83-61 decision at Dayton earlier this season.
MAC NUGGETS
- Junior guard Quinten Rollins' double-double (10 pts/10 asts) against James Madison was the first point/assist double-double by a MAC player this season. His seven steals against Grambling State are the most by a MAC player in 2012-13.
- Rollins leads the MAC in steals (2.3), ranks 2nd in assist/turnover ratio (3.1) and 4th in assists (4.8).
- Junior guard Allen Roberts ties for 14th in scoring (12.0) and ranks 4th in free-throw percentage (.864) and 13th in 3-pointers (1.7).
- Freshman guard Reggie Johnson ties for 22nd in scoring (10.5).
- Junior forward Will Felder ranks 7th in field goal percentage (.517), 30th in scoring (9.6) and ties for 11th in blocked shots (1.0) and 15th in defensive rebounds (3.6).
- Junior forward Jon Harris ranks 27th in scoring (10.0), 5th in 3-point field goal percentage (.455), 10th in 3-pointers (1.8), 13th in field goal percentage (.475), 14th in field goal percentage (.467) and 19th in rebounding (5.1).
- As a team, Miami ranks among the top four in the MAC in 3-point field goal percentage (.373, t-1st), steals (9.3, 2nd), turnover margin (+2.73, 3rd), assist/turnover ratio (1.0, 3rd), assists (14.6, 4th) and 3-point field goals (7.6, 4th).
A MIAMI WIN WOULD ...
- Make Miami 5-0 at home this season.
- Even the RedHawks' record at 6-6.
- Be the RedHawks' third straight win, their longest win streak of the season.
A MIAMI LOSS WOULD ...
- Make Massachusetts 3-0 against MAC teams.
- Be the Minutemen's sixth straight win.
- Make UMass 4-0 in road games this season.
QUICK HITS
- For the second time this season, Miami had five double-figure scorers in its win over Wilmington. Junior guard Allen Roberts and freshman guard Reggie Johnson each has 16 points, while junior forward Will Felder had 12 and junior forward Jon Harris and sophomore guard Will Sullivan each notched 10. Miami also had five double-figure scorers in its win over Grambling State on Nov. 13.
- Junior guard Quinten Rollins leads the MAC in steals, averaging 2.3 per game. Rollins has 108 career steals and needs just 15 more to break onto Miami's career Top-10 chart.
- Sophomore guard Will Sullivan has scored in double figures in the RedHawks' last two games after not having reached double figures previously in his career.
- In Miami's five wins, the RedHawks have surpassed the 70-point plateau, but in their six losses MU has failed to
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