Luke Skaljac, unbeaten No. 22 Miami (Ohio) handle Bowling Green
Luke Skaljac racked up 24 points and Eian Elmer supplied 21 as No. 22 Miami (Ohio) kept the only perfect record in Division I men's basketball intact with a 91-77 win over Bowling Green on Friday in Oxford, Ohio.
Skaljac shot 5 of 10 from 3-point range and Elmer went 5 of 8 to account for most of Miami's 13 triples in 30 attempts. The RedHawks (27-0, 14-0 Mid-American Conference), the No. 2 scoring offense and No. 1 field-goal-shooting team in the country, made 51.7% from the field to build on their program-record win total.
Elmer added eight rebounds, five steals and three assists. Peter Suder had 10 points and five rebounds while battling foul trouble, and Antwone Woolfolk added 10 points and eight boards.
Miami (Ohio) is four games away from a perfect regular season. The RedHawks also scored 90-plus points for the 13th time.
Javontae Campbell carried the Falcons (16-12, 7-8) with 24 points, six rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Mayar Wol had 15 points and Josiah Shackelford added 12, each with three 3-pointers.
The teams went tit for tat during the first eight-plus minutes and Bowling Green held a 21-19 advantage before the RedHawks embarked on an 18-2 run to take control.
Skaljac hit a 3-pointer to put the RedHawks ahead, and he later made two straight driving layups -- including one that resulted in a three-point play -- before he pulled up for a straight-ahead triple to make it 37-23 with 4:29 left and prompt a Bowling Green timeout.
The RedHawks were ahead 45-30 at intermission, but Shackelford hit two quick threes early in the second half to help the Falcons inch closer. Wol knocked down a jumper and a 3-pointer 35 seconds apart to get Bowling Green within 59-51 at the 13:06 mark.
Both teams' scoring hit a speed bump, and Bowling Green tried to stay within shouting distance. Another quick five points, via Campbell's 3-pointer and Shackelford's lay-in, cut Miami's lead to 69-59 with 7:04 to go.
However, the RedHawks punctuated their latest win with triples on three straight possessions -- one by Trey Perry and the next two by Elmer -- to electrify the crowd and give Miami an 85-64 cushion with 3:07 remaining.