RedHawks Defend Home Court, Defeat EMU 89-80

By: Jack Mueller

All Photos Courtesy of: Chris Vogt/The Report

The Miami RedHawks won their seventh conference game of the season on Tuesday night, defeating Eastern Michigan 89-80. The win served as a much needed confidence boost for head coach Travis Steele’s team after a resounding loss to Akron on Saturday. 

“I think we were all a little embarrassed with our performance.” said Steele. “It was a big moment…and I don’t think our program was quite ready for that.”

“Sometimes you have to fail, it’s a part of growth.” he added. 

“We knew we took a big loss on Saturday, we had to get off the mat.” said junior forward Antwone Woolfolk. He led the RedHawks with a career-high 21 points, adding ten rebounds and two steals in his first Miami double-double. Steele emphasized that getting Woolfolk involved was key to their gameplan 

“I gotta help him get the ball” said Steele. “ I think he can be a double-double guy…we have to establish Antwone in every game.”

A heavyweight battle took place in the paint, with EMU’s leading scorer, Da’Sean Nelson (15.9 points per game) taking on Woolfolk. The latter laid claim to victory in the matchup. Nelson struggled to get going, scoring just nine (3-12 FG) and turning the ball over three times. 

Reece Potter was also effective, both alongside Woolfolk and as the lone big man. The 7’1” center put up 10 points, and added five rebounds. He also demonstrated a keen eye for a pass, racking up four assists. Steele stated that it was the first time this season that they were able to play alongside one another. 

“Our interior guys did a tremendous job.” said Steele. “When Reece and Antwone were out there together…I liked that look.”

One notable absence from Tuesday's win was sophomore forward Eian Elmer, who Steele said was ruled out mere hours before tip-off. While Elmer’s absence is “not long term”, Brant Byers was excellent in his place. The freshman scored 12 points with five rebounds, four assists and three blocks. His +/- rating of 18 led the RedHawks.

 Brant Byers lines up a Free Throw (Photo: Chris Vogt)

“He’s a great shooter, but he’s a lot more than that.” said Steele. “The blocked shots, the dunks, the cuts, he’s really coming on.” 

In the frontcourt, Miami’s sophomore guard duo combined for 23 points on 70% shooting. Mekhi Cooper and Evan Ipsaro also added two steals and three assists each in the victory. 

“There’s zero back down…they’re going to fight.” said Steele, adding: “He’s (Ipsaro) a prick, but in a good way…he leaves it all out there, he’s everywhere.”

Mekhi Cooper drives to the lane (Photo: Chris Vogt)

Byers , Elmer went down just hours before the game- First career start, cut into dunk becoming trademark, added 12 points

Fouls were the fatal undoing for Eastern Michigan. As a team, they racked up 27. They sent Miami into the bonus with 16 minutes to play, allowing them to add 14 extra points from the line. In total, the RedHawks shot 40 free throws, making 70% of them. Miami didn’t fare much better, getting the whistle blown on them 20 times. 

“It was chunky,” said Steele. “It seemed like a three hour game.”

 “That's usually not an advantage for us… We were aggressive driving the ball, which is good, because we have to win in different ways” Steele added, “We learned from Akron that we have to play more north-south.” 

How it Happened

Miami’s defense set the tone early, holding Eastern Michigan to just 4-13 from the field in the first seven minutes. Four points apiece from Woolfolk and Byers, including a contact dunk, allowed the RedHawks to open an early three point lead, but Yusuf Jihad responded with a dunk of his own to cut the lead to 11-10. 

Reece Potter re-extended that lead to three, but a technical foul on Steele allowed EMU to bring themselves within one. Jalen Terry connected on EMU’s first three of the day to give his team their first lead of the game. A mid-ranger from Mekhi Cooper tied the game at 21, and a three gave his team the lead. Seconds later, Henry hit a three of his own to tie the game. 

It started raining threes at Millett after that. Jalen Terry and Christian Henry both connected for EMU, with Woolfolk and Potter responding from range for the RedHawks, giving the hosts a 34-30 lead. Woolfolk’s three was his first in a Miami uniform.

“I knew it was good when I shot it.” said Woolfolk.

 Layups by Luke Skaljac and Evan Ipsaro highlighted a 14-3 run for Miami in the latter stages of the first half. Dillon Tingler ended the run with a three, but Potter connected with a triple of his own to send his team to the break with a nine-point lead. 

The RedHawks started the second on a 10-0 run highlighted by a layup from Cooper and threes from Byers and Craft. Da’Sean Nelson ended the run after over four minutes, but three Ipsaro free throws extended the lead to 20. The Eagles responded with a 5-0 run of their own, which was ended by a solo 5-2 run by Suder. 

Eastern Michigan tried to get back into the game, but every time they scored, Peter Suder matched them at the other end.  Osojnik converts a layup at one end? Suder does the same seconds later. Christian Henry cuts the lead to eight after a three? Suder hits a triple of his own. 

Jalen Terry hit his third three of the night and Christian Henry got to the rim to make it an eight point game, but that would be as close as they got. Woolfolk hit two from the free throw line to extend the lead to 11 with two minutes to play. Terry and Osojnik hit shots to bring EMU within eight, but Suder and Woolfolk went 4/4 at the line to prevent the Eagles from cutting further into the deficit. 

Up Next

The RedHawks are now 15-5 (7-1 MAC) and are off to their best start since 1999, the same year the RedHawks won their last NCAA Tournament game. Steele’s team is chasing history, but Steele himself recognizes the progress it took to reach this point. He likened his time as Miami’s coach to his experience building a home

“Sometimes to build, you have to knock it down,” said Steele. “And I told David Sayler (Miami’s Athletic Director) that that’s what we’re going to do.” 

“To see it come to fruition has been a lot of fun,” he added. “We’re not where we want to be, but we’re not where we are.”

His team will have their next chance to write history on Saturday, when the rival Ohio Bobcats visit Oxford. A massive crowd is expected for “One Miami Day”, with RedHawk legends Wayne Embry and Wally Sczerbiack expected to be in attendance. It is not lost on Steele how large this game looms this weekend.

“There’s nobody at 6 am conditioning but us, there’s nobody on those treadmills other than us.” he said. “You do that for these moments, to play in these games.”

The Bobcats were named the top team in the MAC in the preseason poll, and sit in fourth with a 5-3 conference record so far. They will be looking to bounce back from a narrow loss to Toledo on Tuesday night. 

“We’re gonna get their best shot, but they have to get our best shot, we’re not sneaking up on anyone anymore.” said Steele.

The first Battle of the Bricks matchup of 2025 will take place at Millett Hall at 3:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.