The RedHawks junior guard bounced back from scoring just six points in Miami’s 71-59 loss on Sunday to Akron to pile up 25 in 36 minutes, including 10-of-11 on free throws, and lead the RedHawks to a 62-57 Mid-American Conference win over last-place Western Michigan on Tuesday at Millett Hall.
“Rhythm,” Grant, who also finished with a team-high eight rebounds, said when asked the difference in the two games. “I was able to get into a rhythm, and I have to give credit to my teammates. They kept feeding me, and I was able to play off them.”
The RedHawks (10-13, 4-8 MAC) avoided their seventh loss in the last eight games since a 70-62 win at Western Michigan on Jan. 15 and a sixth straight defeat, which would have been their longest losing streak since losing 10 straight in the 2015-2016 season.
“It’s good to get a win,” fifth-year RedHawks coach Jack Owens said. “I think we did a good job defending them. Offensively, guys came up with big plays.”
Miami, which played three games in five days, is ninth in the 12-team MAC. The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the MAC Tournament in Cleveland.
“We have been playing an NBA schedule,” Owens said. “Maybe the guys like it because they don’t practice as much. I know the guys are tired. It’s been a grind. It’s good to get a day off.”
Grant was looking forward to a little break.
“It’ll be good to get our legs under us and our minds right,” Grant said.
Western Michigan (4-20, 0-13) led by nine, 44-35, with 11:16 left in the game, but the RedHawks put together a 15-2 run led by Grant’s 10 points, seven on free throws, to open up a 50-48 lead.
Miami’s defense limited the MAC’s leading scorer, Broncos’ junior guard Lamar Norman Jr., to 12 points in 34 minutes. He was averaging 20.2 going into the game and scored 26 in the first game against Miami. Western Michigan compensated by getting four players in double figures.
“They have a solid team,” Owens said. “They’ve been in a lot of games. They have some good players.”
Senior guard Mekhi Lairy added 11 for the RedHawks.
The Broncos, who went into the game leading the MAC with an average of 14.6 turnover per game, finished with 17, allowing Miami to put together a 17-13 advantage in points off turnovers.
“This is the second straight game we forced 17 turnovers, and we only had nine,” Owens said. “We need to continue to have that balance.”
Senior forward Dalonte Brown, Miami’s leading rebounder, missed his fifth consecutive game with an ankle injury he suffered early in the RedHawks’ 81-64 loss on Jan. 25 at Ball State,
Brown, whose return remains indefinite, also remains second on the team with an average of 12.3 points per game.
Brown’s return remains undetermined.
“I have no idea,” Owens said. “He’s doing better. It’s good to see him out and about. Believe me, when he’s ready, you’ll see him.”
The RedHawks are scheduled to wrap up a three-game home stand on Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. game against Bowling Green. Miami lost, 87-83, in overtime at Bowling Green on Jan. 8. BG is eighth in the MAC with records of 5-8 in the conference and 12-12 overall.
Norman scored just four points in the first half, but the Broncos still were able to cobble together a 30-24 halftime lead. They led by as many as eight before Grant scored seven points during a 12-2 run that left them leading, 24-21, with 3:15 left before halftime. Western Michigan bounced back to end the half with a 9-0 run.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Bowling Green at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ESPN3, 980, 1450
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