RedHawks can’t deliver ‘knockout’ against UD

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Miami University junior Rodney Haddix II drives to the basket for two of his game-high 15 points against Dayton on Wednesday night, Dec. 2, at Millett Hall in Oxford.

Staff photo by Jim Noelker Miami University junior Rodney Haddix II drives to the basket for two of his game-high 15 points against Dayton on Wednesday night, Dec. 2, at Millett Hall in Oxford.

Miami builds a 12-point lead and keeps the game close throughout, but still comes up short.

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 8:29 AM Thursday, December 3, 2009

OXFORD — Charlie Coles had a simple explanation of why the Dayton Flyers defeated the Miami RedHawks 65-58 on the 100th-year anniversary of this college basketball rivalry.

“Dayton out-toughed us,” the Miami basketball coach said Wednesday, Dec. 2. “I thought we were tough. They were tougher.”

Dayton rallied from a 12-point deficit early in the first half, dominated the middle part of the game, then held off a late rally from the RedHawks by sinking six straight free throws in the final 31 seconds.

“We’ve kinda done that all year long — we’ve had excellent execution in crucial situations,” Dayton coach Brian Gregory said.

Junior forward Chris Wright led the Flyers (4-2) with 14 points, and sophomore guard Chris Johnson had 13 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks.

Still, Miami (2-5) had a chance to tie the game following a timeout with 26 seconds remaining. The RedHawks trailed by three but had possession.

Miami senior guard Kenny Hayes drove down the lane but could not connect with 12 seconds left. Dayton senior guard Marcus Johnson wrapped his hands around the ball, was fouled and converted both free throws.

The RedHawks led 18-6 early in the first half on the shooting of junior guard Rodney Haddix II, the game-high scorer with 15 points, and Hayes, who finished with 13. Haddix hit 3-of-4 shots from beyond the 3-point arc.

“But we kept playing our game,” Dayton senior guard Mickey Perry said. “Ball pressure was the difference.”

“Our guys didn’t panic,” Gregory said. “I liked our defensive in tensity, our defensive pressure.”

The Flyers ended the first half with a 24-10 run to take a 30-28 lead at the break.

“We kinda lost the energy we started the game off with,” Hayes said.

“We have to be a little tougher,” Haddix said.

A 3-point basket by junior Nick Winbush 20 seconds into the second half gave Miami its final lead. Then the Flyers scored seven straight points.

“We did a lot of good things tonight against what I think is a really good team,” said Gregory, whose Flyers shot 48.9 percent from the floor and outrebounded Miami 30-29.

“Our players are tough,” Coles said, “but against these real good teams, if you beat them, it’s got to be a knockout.”

Senior center Adam Fletcher played well off the bench for Miami, finishing with eight points, nine rebounds and three steals.

The first game between Miami and Dayton was played in 1909. The Flyers won at home 17-15.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.