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Miami falls despite threes

Host Broncos defeat the RedHawks 73-64 with second half scoring run.

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Staff Report Updated 7:24 PM Sunday, January 29, 2012

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Despite a hot 3-point shooting first half, the Miami University men’s basketball team fell to Western Michigan 73-64 on Saturday.

The host Broncos broke open a 38-all tie with a 14-2 scoring run early in the second half to take control of the game.

Brian Sullivan led the RedHawks with 20 points, including six 3-pointers . Miami (5-14, 1-6 Mid-American Conference) converted 15 3-point shots in the game, which ties for the second most in a single game in school history.

Julian Mavunga finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds for the RedHawks.

“We played a really good first half, and it was a one-point game at the break (36-35, Western Michigan),” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “But in the second half, we came out and really struggled to guard them. Their inside guys really took us apart.”

Coles said his team’s game plan was to key on Broncos guard Mike Douglas, but WMU’s big men took the game over.

While Douglas finished with 12 points, Flenard Whitfield and Shayne Whittington scored 22 and 16 points respectively for Western Michigan (10-11, 4-3 MAC).

“Whitfield and Whittington really hurt us badly,” Coles said. “We’ve been having trouble guarding big people. They hurt us on the inside defensively.”

Miami returns to MAC action at 7 p.m. Wednesday, when it will host Eastern Michigan.

“Everybody we’re playing, we’re capable of beating them,” Coles said. “But they’re also capable of beating us.

“Everything we’re doing wrong is fixable. We just need to play more consistent and play better basketball.”

Next game

Who: Eastern Michigan (10-11, 5-2 MAC East) at Miami (5-14, 1-6 MAC East)

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Millett Hall, Oxford

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