Men’s Basketball: Miami scouting report and how to watch

After its last game was postponed due to COVID-19, Ohio is back on the road. It will meet Miami inside Millett Hall in Oxford for the 209th installment of the “Battle of the Bricks.”

Ohio is the team to beat in the Mid-American Conference while Miami is stuck in the middle of the pack. The Bobcats (13-2, 4-0 MAC) are on their best start to a season in a decade while the RedHawks (8-7, 2-2 MAC) seem to be staying the course they have followed under fifth-year coach Jack Owens.

Still, there is potential for an upset. 

Miami picked up a 10-point win over Buffalo to open conference play, and it lost to Toledo by just three points last week. The RedHawks tout a modest defense and have been able to compete with or outright shut down some of the best teams in the MAC. 

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Millett Hall. Here’s what you need to know about Miami ahead of Tuesday’s matchup: 

Game information

Opponent: Miami

Venue: Millett Hall

Time: 7 p.m.

Watch: ESPN3

Listen: Ohio IMG Sports Network

Live stats: Live stats are provided here.

Meet the opponent

Probable starters

02 Mekhi Lairy (5-feet-8, 140 pounds)

03 Dae Dae Grant (6-feet-2, 185 pounds)

22 Myja White (6-feet-1, 185 pounds)

05 Precious Ayah (6-feet-6, 240 pounds)

13 Dalonte Brown (6-feet-7, 215 pounds)

Individual statistical leaders

Points: Grant (16.7 points per game)

Rebounds: Brown (7.2 rebounds per game)

Assists: Grant (4.2 assists per game)

Field goal percentage: Luka Eller (100%)

3-point percentage: Wil Stevens (100%)

Free throw percentage: Isaiah Coleman-Lands (100%)

Team statistical profile

Points per game: 78.5

Rebounds per game: 37.8

Assists per game: 13.7

Turnovers per game: 9.6

Field goal percentage: 45.6%

3-point percentage: 34.5%

Free throw percentage: 78.3%

The series

Tuesday’s game will be the 209th meeting between the Bobcats and the RedHawks. Ohio leads the all-time series 114-94. Ohio has won 17 of the last 20 meetings and hasn’t lost to Miami since the 2018-19 season.

Player to watch

Precious Ayah — While not Miami’s scoring leader, Ayah has embraced his role as Miami’s big man. The redshirt fifth year averages just 5.8 field goal attempts per game but is shooting 72.4% from the field and hasn’t shot under 50% in a game since late November. What’s more, Ayah hasn’t made a single 3-point attempt this season. With his size, Ayah will be a threat in the paint Ohio can’t afford to ignore.

@thejackgleckler

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