March 4, 2005

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Coles' Thoughts:
KEYS TO THE GAME VERSUS MARSHALL: "First, we have to score some points. Against Marshall, the last three times we've played them, two of those games have been very low-scoring games, so we have to find a way to get a fast break going and to try to score. The second thing is to put together a very good defensive performance, which would also include rebounding. The third thing is to play with great energy and focus."

ON THE WAY MIAMI CAME BACK AFTER TWO TOUGH LOSSES: "The Kent State game without a doubt may be the best basketball that has been played by a Miami team in many years. We did so many good things--we defended, we rebounded and we made a high percentage of our shots. We also played with great energy."

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SATURDAY'S GAME AT MARSHALL: "We want to win this game to have sole possession of first place and win the MAC Championship. That's been our goal from the beginning of the year. That's going to be huge for us, so we have plenty to play for. Marshall is a very good team and has come so close so many times, and I know they are going to be motivated for the RedHawks. This will be the last time we go into the Henderson Center, and, with the Miami/Marshall rivalry over the years, this is sort of like a good-bye. The other thing we want to do is to continue to play well after the Kent State game and get a rhythm going so that we can go into the MAC Tournament with complete confidence. The tournament is going to be so tough, that our team is going to have to be very confident going into our first game. We can't afford to slack off at all."

ON MIAMI WINNING A SCHOOL RECORD 13 HOME GAMES THIS YEAR: "It is a phenomenal feeling to have been able to accomplish winning all 13 of our home games this season. Anytime a team can win all of their home games, that is a plus for that team. Winning 13 home games this season is a tribute to our players, it is a tribute to our fans and it is a tribute to our cheerleaders and dance team, because they are all a part of it. It feels very good to have been able to do that this season."

ABOUT THE THUNDERING HERD: Marshall enters Saturday's game after falling by just seven points at Akron on Wednesday, 64-71, and has lost five straight. Most of Marshall's wins have come at home this season, and an emotionally charged group of five seniors playing their last game at the Cam Henderson Center will look to end Marshall's run in the Mid-American Conference on a positive note before the program heads to Conference-USA next season. Mark Patton leads Marshall, averaging 11.0 ppg over 26 games and 11.8 ppg in MAC play. A.W. Hamilton follows, averaging 10.6 ppg in 26 games and 11.5 ppg in MAC action. Patton also leads the team with 8.0 rpg, while Hamilton leads the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.52). As a team, Marshall ranks third in 3-pointers per game and has four players with more than 30 treys this season, led by Joe Miles' 46 3-pointers.

THE SERIES WITH MARSHALL: Saturday marks the 75th meeting between Miami and Marshall with the RedHawks holding a 47-27 lead in the all-time series. When playing in Huntington, Miami owns a slight 18-17 edge. Earlier this season, Miami pulled out a 59-51 win in Millett Hall. The last time the teams met in Huntington, Miami won a 51-48 overtime decision. Marshall's last win against Miami on its homecourt also was it's last win in the series--a 58-51 triumph to end the 2002-03 regular-season. That loss prevented Miami from winning the East Division.

DESTINY'S CHILD: Holding a one-game lead in the Mid-American Conference race with one game remaining in the regular season, Miami University's men's basketball team holds its destiny in its hands. Miami owns at least a share of the overall and East Division titles, while a win at Marshall on Saturday would give the RedHawks both titles outright. With a 70-45 win over Kent State on Wednesday, the RedHawks captured at least a share of the program's league-record 21 MAC regular-season crown. Miami have secured a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament.

LUCKY NUMBER 13: While the number 13 is often thought unlucky, it proved to be the magic number for Miami at home this season. The RedHawks went a perfect 13-0 at home, posting the most home wins in a season in program history. It also marked the program's fourth perfect home season in the 37-year history of playing at Millett Hall. Miami went 12-0 at Millett Hall in 1994-95, 1996-97 and 1998-99. Three of the four undefeated home seasons have come during head coach Charlie Coles' tenure. Miami has won 14 straight games, dating back to the 2003-04 campaign, which ties for ninth nationally in active home win streaks. The Miami record for consecutive home wins is 23. Additionally, with 13 MAC wins Miami also would clinch the overall and East Division titles outright.

CLOSE CALLS: While the RedHawks have been on the winning side of several close games this season, they suffered two heartbreaking road losses last week, the first back-to-back losses for the team this season. At Akron on Feb. 23, no team led by more than four points until overtime. Junior guard William Hatcher (Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth) sent the game into overtime, drilling a 3-pointer with two seconds left in regulation. The Zips outscored Miami 8-2 over the extra five minutes to claim the 55-49 win. At Bowling Green on Feb. 27, the Falcons did not lead until the 1:15 mark of the second half and ended up winning the game by one point, 57-56, on a jumper by Josh Almanson with six seconds remaining. Miami's last three losses have been by a combined 11 points.

MASON MAKES 100TH CONSECUTIVE START; AMONG ACTIVE NATIONAL LEADERS: Having played in every game during his Miami career and starting all but one, senior guard Chet Mason moved to fifth among active Division I players in consecutive starts with 108, according to Stats, Inc., and made his 100th consecutive start on Feb. 3 at Toledo. The lone game during his career that Mason did not start was on Dec. 8, 2001 vs. Notre Dame.

	1 	Craig Forth, Syracuse 	        Sr 	131
	2 	Chris Thomas, Notre Dame 	Sr 	125
	3 	Ryan Gomes, Providence 	        Sr 	113
	4 	Edwin Draughan, Yale 	        Sr 	110
	5 	Chet Mason, Miami (OH) 	        Sr 	108
			Numbers as of 3/3/05

IN GOOD COMPANY; MASON JOINS HARPER: With three steals in a 70-45 win against Kent State on March 2, senior guard Chet Mason joined Ron Harper as the only two Miami players to record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 steals. Mason owns 1,169 points, 782 rebounds, 315 assists and 152 steals. He ranks among Miami's career top 10 in rebounds, assists and steals and ranks 21st in scoring.

TYING AN ALL-TIME LOW: Restricting Kent State to 11 first-half points on March 2, Miami tied a program record for fewest opponent points in a half. Three other times teams have scored 11 points in a half, all coming in the first 20 minutes: Davidson (12-27-83), Kent State (1-24-64) and Toledo (1-6-62).

HAUSFELD'S RETURN: After a nine-game absence due to an ankle injury sustained in Miami's Jan. 15 game at Buffalo and not being expected to return until the MAC Tournament, junior guard Josh Hausfeld (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) made an unexpected return in Miami's Feb. 19 win over Wichita State. Hausfeld played six minutes against the Shockers and went 1-for-2 from 3-point range in his first game back. At Bowling Green on Feb. 27, Hausfeld played an impressive 19 minutes with a solid defensive effort against BG's top scorer John Reimold.

THE `SLUIS BREAKS LOOSE: Junior center Nate VanderSluis (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) had what head coach Charlie Coles described as his best performance in a RedHawk uniform in Miami's Feb. 19 win over Wichita State. VanderSluis scored a season-high eight points, going 3-for-4 from the field and sinking two critical free-throws with 1:27 left to play. VanderSluis also hauled in four rebounds, while playing 16 minutes versus the Shockers.

THE SEVEN-GAME STREAK: During Miami's seven-game win streak from Jan. 19-Feb. 9, the RedHawks shot a solid 50.1 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from 3-point range, while holding opponents to 39.9 percent from the field and 32.3 percent beyond the arc. They outrebounded teams by 10.4 rpg, averaging 36.7 rpg during the stretch, and posted an assist to turnover ratio of 1.00 to their opponents' 0.80. Additionally, Miami averaged 72.6 ppg, while allowing 63.3 ppg.

MASON AND HORACE PICK UP HONORS: Last week, senior guard Chet Mason (Cleveland, Ohio/South) and senior forward Danny Horace (Cincinnati, Ohio/Western Hills) were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 10 Second Team. Horace and Mason were among five MAC players to earn second-team all-district status. Horace also was tabbed the MAC East Division Player of the Week on Feb. 21 as Miami went 2-0 with wins over Marshall and Wichita State. Horace averaged 19.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg for the week.

UP IN THE RPI: Including games played through Wednesday, March 2, Miami has cracked the College RPI's top 30, coming in at a Mid-American Conference-leading No. 24. Heading into its Jan. 30 game against Akron, Miami was No. 43 in the RPI.

COLES REACHES 150 WINS AT MIAMI AND 150 MAC WINS: With Miami's 74-63 win over Akron on Jan 30, Miami head coach Charlie Coles earned his 150th win at the helm of the Miami program. Coincidentally, Coles won his 100th game at Miami against Akron on Jan. 12, 2002. With a 59-51 win over Marshall on Feb. 15, Coles posted his 150th Mid-American Conference win between stints at Miami and Central Michigan. Three more overall wins puts Coles at the 250-win plateau for his career.

MASON BECOMES 29TH AND HORACE IS 30TH TO REACH 1,000 POINT-MARK: On the second of a pair of free throws with seconds remaining in Miami's 83-73 win over Eastern Michigan, senior guard Chet Mason became the 29th player in program history to record 1,000 career points. Senior forward Danny Horace scored his 1,000th career point on a jumper with 9:41 left in the second half of Miami's 59-57 win over Ohio on Jan. 22, becoming the 30th in program history to reach the mark.

MASON AND HORACE ON THE REBOUND: Senior guard Chet Mason moved onto Miami's career rebounding chart at Buffalo on Jan. 15. Mason ranks seventh all-time with 782 boards, posting his 700th career rebound against Akron on Jan. 30. Senior forward Danny Horace posted his 700th rebound against Marshall on Feb. 15 and currently ranks eighth with 747 career rebounds.

HORACE AND PENNO RANKED AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS: Senior forward Danny Horace ties for 18th among national statistical leaders in rebounding (9.7), while sophomore guard Doug Penno ranks fifth in 3-point shooting percentage (.520), according to ESPN.com.

THE LAST TIME...: With one week left in the regular season, senior forward Danny Horace is nearly averaging a double-double (15.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg) ... the last time a Miami player averaged a double-double for the season was Ron Harper in 1985-86 (24.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg).

COMEBACK KIDS: Trailing by as many as 17 in the second half and down 14 points with 4:45 to play in regulation, Miami staged one of the program's most thrilling comebacks on Feb. 5 against Buffalo. The RedHawks, who committed 21 turnovers for the game, did not turn the ball over during the final six minutes of regulation and all five minutes in overtime, while causing seven Buffalo turnovers during the same stretch. Over the final 4:45 in regulation, Miami went on a 14-4 run to knot the game and outscored the Bulls 10-7 in the overtime period. Miami also trailed Toledo by nine in the first half earlier in the week and came back to earn a 76-64 win at Toledo.

HATCHING A COMEBACK: One of the major factors in Miami's 14-point comeback against Buffalo on Feb. 5 was the sharp shooting of junior guard William Hatcher. Hatcher scored 11 of his career-high 23 points over the final 3:03 of the second half, including a trio of 3-pointers over the final 1:46 of regulation. Hatcher drilled the game-tying trey off an assist by senior guard Chet Mason with 2.9 seconds remaining. Hatcher also scored the go-ahead bucket for the RedHawks with 2:56 left in overtime.

COMEBACK KIDS--THE SEQUEL: Who said sequels are never as good as the original? For the second time in as many games, Miami used last-second dramatics to win as sophomore forward Nathan Peavy (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) tossed in a shot at the buzzer after Chet Mason heaved a half-court shot that was off the mark with time running out. Peavy's game-winner capped a 6-0 Miami run over the final minute of the game to lift Miami to a 54-52 decision at Ball State on Feb. 9.

MIAMI NO. 47 ON STREET & SMITH'S 100 ALL-TIME GREATEST PROGRAMS: In a special publication by Street & Smith's of the top 100 all-time greatest college basketball programs, Miami University's basketball program was rated No. 47. Fifteen categories were used to determine the top 100, including NCAA and NIT appearances and wins, conference championships and tournament championships, graduation rates, all-time winning percentages, NBA first-round draft picks and even mascot ferocity. After selecting the top 100 programs, editors at Street & Smith's asked for stories on each school that made the respective programs unique or special instead of rehashing the of history of the program. Miami was one of two Mid-American Conference schools to make the top 100 with Ohio coming in at No. 86. Locally, Cincinnati was No. 10, Xavier was No. 48 and Dayton was No. 79. The publication became available on newsstands nationwide on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Copies also can be purchased at www.specialpubs.com/100Greatest.

FLIRTING WITH HISTORY: Twice over a three-game stretch, senior guard Chet Mason narrowly missed becoming just the second player in Miami history to record a triple-double. Ron Harper owns the only Miami triple-double and the first in Mid-American Conference history with 38 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists versus Ball State on Feb. 15, 1986. In Miami's 71-61 win over Central Michigan, Mason posted 15 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. At Eastern Michigan, in the RedHawks' 83-73 win against the Eagles, Mason recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH Doug Penno: While a witty opening monologue may not be part of his repertoire, Miami sophomore guard Doug Penno has used solid long-range shooting and good hustle over Miami's last 13 games to make a name for himself. Penno erupted with a 6-for-9 performance from 3-point range en route to a career-high 21 points at Eastern Michigan, while also going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, doling out a career-high three assists and playing a career-high 22 minutes versus the Eagles. He was the fourth Miami player to notch 20 points in a game this season. Penno has continued to provide the RedHawks with solid contributions. Over the last 13 games, Penno has gone 23-of-48 (.479) from the field and 19-of-34 (.559) from 3-point range.

HATCHER PICKING UP THE PACE: Shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from 3-point range for the season, junior guard William Hatcher has picked up the pace over the past 16 games. Hatcher has scored in double figures in 11 of the last 16 games and is shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from 3-point range. Hatcher spearheaded Miami's 14-point comeback to send the Feb. 5 Buffalo game into overtime, scoring 11 points during an 18-4 Miami run, including three treys over the final 1:46 of the game and the game-tying 3-pointer. Over the last 16 games, he is averaging 12.1 ppg.

MASON HITS CENTURY MARK ... AGAIN: When senior guard Chet Mason took the court against Central Michigan, it marked his 100th career game played at Miami. Mason started his 100th game for the RedHawks one game later at Buffalo and has made 108 consecutive starts. He also has moved onto Miami's career minutes played chart against CMU. He ranks fourth with 3,768 career minutes.

HORACE'S 100-GRAND: Miami's Jan. 26 game against Western Michigan marked the 100th career game played for senior forward Danny Horace. Horace also has started 94 games at Miami.

A SLIGHT VARIATION: Through its first 13 games, Miami used the same starting lineup--Danny Horace, Nathan Peavy, Monty St. Clair, William Hatcher, Chet Mason. The starting lineup was altered versus EMU on Jan. 19, however, when senior forward Tim Schenke was inserted due to Peavy suffering from the flu. It was the first time since the 1989-90 season Miami had used the same starting lineup this far into the season. In 1989-90, Tim Stewart (F), Lamont Hanna (F), Jim Paul (C), Karlton Clayborn (G) and Jamie Mercurio (G) started the first 25 of Miami's 29 games. Miami returned to its original starting lineup vs. Ohio on Jan 22, using it the past 12 games.

EARLY EDGE TO MIAMI'S ADVANTAGE: Holding a lead after the first 20 minutes of the game seems to really work to Miami's advantage this season. When owning a halftime lead, the RedHawks were 14-2. Miami led at the half against Akron and Bowling Green before eventually dropping a 55-49 overtime decision at Akron and a 57-56 loss at Bowling Green. If tied at the half, Miami is 1-1, while posting a 3-5 record when trailing at the half. Miami trailed Wright State by two points at the half and came back to win in overtime and trailed Northern Illinois by one point at the half before winning that game in regulation. Most recently, Miami trailed Buffalo by 12 at the half before coming back to win in overtime.

FLASH FACTS: Miami posted its largest halftime lead since the 1995-96 season with a 42-11 lead over Kent State ... the 11 points tie for the fewest points in a half by a RedHawk opponent in program history ... Danny Horace collected his 11th double-double of the season with 19 points and 15 rebounds to lead all players ... Nathan Peavy added 13 points, while Chet Mason collected nine rebounds for the RedHawks ... Miami also posted a school record 13 home wins in a season with the 70-45 win over the Golden Flashes.

HOME SWEET HOME: With home wins over Purdue, Findlay, Ball State, Liberty, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, Ohio, Western Michigan, Akron, Buffalo, Marshall, Wichita State and Kent State Miami is 13-0 at home this season, setting the program's single-season record for consecutive home wins, and winning 14 straight dating back to 2003-04. The RedHawks own a 350-110 all-time record (.761) in the confines of Millett Hall. Miami's Jan. 22 win over Ohio secured its 17th consecutive home winning season.

HOME SWEET HOME TAKE 3: While playing on its home court has been favorable for Miami, it also likes to shoot the three in Millett Hall this season. Over its 13 home games, Miami knocked down 103-of-229 3-point attempts for a 45.0 shooting percentage beyond the arc. On the road, Miami is hitting just 32.8 percent of its treys.

ROAD BUMPS: While Miami has had much success on its home floor, posting a 13-0 mark, playing away from Millett Hall has not been as favorable for the RedHawks. Since going 2-1 on the road to start the season (Xavier, 66-54; Butler, 48-61; Wright State, 59-54 OT), Miami had dropped four straight road contests (SMS, 63-69; Cincinnati, 53-77; Kent State, 49-68; Buffalo, 56-67) until collecting three straight key road wins at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 19, 83-73, at Toledo on Feb. 3, 76-64 and at Ball State on Feb. 9, 54-52. Miami, however, has lost its last three home games: a 61-57 loss at Ohio on Feb. 12, a 55-49 overtime loss at Akron on Feb. 23 and a 57-56 loss at Bowling Green on Feb. 27 to move to 5-8 on the road this season.

FREE THROWS: Although the RedHawks' free-throw shooting percentages have been anything but consistent, with team game percentages ranging from .333 to .944, Miami has been able to knock down charity tosses in clutch situations. In games decided by 10 points or fewer and in all overtime games, Miami is hitting a solid 73.2 percent of its free throws, going 60-for-82 from the line. Its opponents are 34-of-45 (.756). (See page 11 for player break down.)

BOARD BANTER: Miami owned the glass in its first six contests of the season, outrebounding opponents in all six games. Prior to the Jan. 15 Buffalo game, however, the RedHawks outrebounded their opponents in just three of their previous six games. Against the Bulls, Miami returned to early-season form, outrebounding Buffalo by a 12-rebound margin (40-28), its then-largest spread of the season. Miami hauled in an impressive 17 offensive boards and had 23 defensive rebounds. The RedHawks have continued their solid rebounding since the Jan. 15 Buffalo game, outrebounding opponents 527-381 (+10.4 per game) over the past 14 games. Miami also is averaging 11.6 offensive rebounds per game over the past 14 games.

DOUBLE-DIGIT DANNY: For the third time in his career, senior forward Danny Horace opened the season manufacturing a double-double. Horace knocked down 15 points and pulled down a career-high-tying 14 rebounds against Purdue on Nov. 19 for the eighth double-double of his career. Horace tallied 16 points and 10 rebounds in Miami's season opener against Liberty last season and ignited his career with 11 points and 14 rebounds at UNC Wilmington in the RedHawks' season opener his freshman year. The only season Horace failed to produce a double-double in the season-opener was his sophomore campaign when the RedHawks started the season at Purdue. Horace tallied three points and two rebounds against Purdue that year.

AND SPEAKING OF DOUBLE-DOUBLES: In 11 of Miami's 26 games, senior forward Danny Horace has recorded double-doubles. Horace now owns 18 career double-doubles. Horace has been the RedHawks' leading scorer in 12 of the RedHawks' 26 games and its leader in rebounding in 18 contests.

20/20 VISION: Three times this season two Miami players have recorded 20-plus points in a game, including a two-game stretch (Nov. 29 and Dec. 4). Against Findlay on Nov. 29, forwards Danny Horace and Nathan Peavy (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) each notched 22 points--a career-high for Peavy. In Miami's win over MAC foe Ball State on Dec. 4, guard Chet Mason produced 21 points, while Horace added 20. Most recently, guard William Hatcher notched a career-high 23 points and Horace tallied a game-best 25 points in a 77-74 overtime win over Buffalo on Feb. 5.

THE ROARING 20's: Seven times this season, senior forward Danny Horace has tallied 20 or more points, including a stretch of three-straight games: 22 points against Findlay (Nov. 29), 20 points versus Ball State (Dec. 4) and a career-high 27 points at Wright State (Dec. 8). Horace also led all scorers with 23 points on Jan. 5 against Northern Illinois and on Jan. 30 against Akron, with 25 points on Feb. 5 against Buffalo and with 24 points vs. Wichita State on Feb. 19. Senior guard Chet Mason has scored 20 or more points four times this season, including a career-high 27 points--22 of which came in the second half--on Feb. 3 against Toledo.

CHARGE IT: Sophomore center Monty St. Clair posted a career-high six steals against Purdue, which ties for fourth on Miami's single-game chart. Four of those steals came off second-half charges.

A MIAMI WIN WOULD ...
•	Move Miami to 13-5 in MAC play.
•	Give Miami the outright overall and East Division MAC crowns.
•	Move Miami within one win of the 20-win mark
•	Snap a three-game road skid.
A MIAMI LOSS WOULD ...
•	Drop Miami to 12-6 in MAC play.
•	Be Miami's fourth straight road loss.
•	Possibly drop the RedHawks to the No. 3 seed in the MAC Tourney.