Sports

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For any number of reasons, the Miami RedHawks' 61-58 overtime victory over Illinois at Assembly Hall on Thursday night should not have happened.

Not with the Illini shooting 24 of the game's first 25 free throws, not with the RedHawks giving away points on lane violations, not with Miami fumbling the ball out of bounds at the two worst possible times.

But coach Charlie Coles has known for a long time that good defense can make magic, and on Thursday, the RedHawks' defense was better than good.

"We deserved this win because of our defensive effort, especially in the second half," said junior forward Michael Bramos, who overcame a sprained ankle to score a team-high 19 points off the bench. "We really played Miami-type team defense."

The Illini (6-4) went almost 13 minutes without a field goal in the second half, and even though they scored seven straight points in the final minute of regulation to force the extra period, they were unable to sustain any momentum against the RedHawks. It was the 44th consecutive game in which Miami held the opposition to fewer than 70 points.

Tim Pollitz recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds and Bramos hit a 3-point basket with 2:26 left in overtime to put Miami (6-4) on top for good.

"It's a big win," said Coles, whose team lost to Illinois last year, 51-49, in the Chicago Invitational after leading for almost the entire game. "I've always said that as a coach, you always want to play good teams and good coaches, because it sets an example for your team.

"For us to come in here and play in front of this crowd (of 16,618), it does our team good. So this was a big win. This was a huge win."

Especially after what happened on Saturday, when Wright State hit a last-second game-winning shot against the RedHawks, and after what happened on Nov. 28, when Miami blew a 33-18 halftime lead against Dayton.

"They deserve to be happy," Coles said. "They fought hard. Just five days ago we had a tough one at Wright State. In the second half tonight we really turned it around."

A 12-0 run by the Illini helped boost them to a 25-23 lead, and Illinois led by as many as six points early in the second half before Miami's defense took over.

Two free throws by Alex Moosmann put the RedHawks on top 52-45 with 1:14 remaining, but the Illini stormed back and tied the score at 52-52 when Brian Randle scored two inside baskets in the final 30 seconds.

Miami sealed the victory in overtime, following Bramos' 3-pointer, on a driving shot by Kenny Hayes with 33 seconds left in overtime and two free throws by Bramos with 11.9 seconds left.

Shaun Pruitt led Illinois with 24 points and 15 rebounds; Randle finished with 14.

Miami will seek its third straight win Saturday afternoon against the Kansas Jayhawks on the road.