CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Entering Thursday's quarterfinal matchup,Miami had made just 31.4 percent of its 3-pointers on the seasonand had gone 17-10 by winning often in ugly fashion.
Unfortunately for Ball State, the RedHawks decided to get hot,and they built a lead too large for the Cardinals to overcome. BallState never led and fell 72-67, ending its season at 14-15.
Miami drained eight of its first 17 3-pointers in building a14-point lead with more than 12 minutes left, then scored its last13 points from the free-throw line.
Miami coach Charlie Coles insisted that his team has goodshooters, but they had been plagued by the "Curse of CharlieColes."
"I was one of the few guys, when the 3-point shot came out, Icouldn't stand it, because I thought it would ruin the game," Colessaid. "Some of that is just getting them to think positive abouthitting open shots."
The 3-pointer didn't ruin the RedHawks on Thursday.
Miami, which started the game on a 10-2 run and led 34-30 athalftime, opened up a 49-35 advantage with a 15-5 run to start thesecond half. Monty St. Clair, Josh Hausfeld and even Chet Mason --a 15-percent long-range shooter -- hit 3-pointers in the run.
"It's tough because you feel you're working all-out on defense,and they get a last-second shot," Ball State guard Dennis Trammellsaid of Miami's 3-pointers. "It really hurt us getting off to aslow start, because we had to battle back most of the game. Youbattle back, it's going to take a lot out of you."
The Cards did have one final push, though.
Matt McCollom had two 3-point plays in a 15-4 run. Robert Owenscapped the run with a jumper from the left wing, making it 53-50with 6:36 left.
But Mason took a long rebound from Terrace Chapman's misfiredtrey attempt and drove in for a layup and subsequent free throwafter he was fouled. The play started an 8-2 spurt, and the Cardswould get no closer than five after that.
"I thought we had to battle back for too much of the game,"Buckley said. "Not only does it wear on you physically, but it alsocan mentally.
"I thought early on we were just trying to make some shots, andwe didn't make them, so we had to battle back. Then in the secondhalf, when we got within four or six, on back-to-back possessionswe took ill-advised shots. That kept us from getting over thehump."
Miami's leading scorer, Juby Johnson, shot just 3-of-14 from thefield, but he sank 13 free throws on his way to a game-high 20points. He also added seven assists. Mason, the league'sfourth-leading rebounder even though he plays point guard, added 14points and corralled 13 boards. Danny Horace added 12 points andeight rebounds, and William Hatcher chipped in 10 points for theRedHawks, including a pair of 3-pointers.
"We're not a great shooting team, but we've made timely shots,"said Coles, whose team takes an 18-10 record into today's semifinalmatchup with Kent State. "Although we don't make a lot of shots,we're as good as any team in the '50s or early '60s."
Owens tallied team-bests of 17 points and seven rebounds in thefinal game of his career. McCollom added 13 points and sevenboards, while Trammell had 12. Ball State's other senior, CameronEchols, suffered from foul trouble and shot just 1-of-7 for threepoints.
Although the loss marked back-to-back losing seasons for histeam, Buckley remained proud of the Cards' effort.
"I thought for 88 times this year in practice, they've laid iton the floor," he said. "We competed in all 29 games. We've learneda lot and grew a lot this year."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
