Geovonie McKnight is getting an opportunity to expand his game, a move that should benefit him throughout his Miami University basketball career.

A natural shooting guard from Middletown High School, the freshman is learning the point-guard position mostly on the fly this season for the RedHawks.

“I feel like I’m adjusting to the speed of the game a lot better,” McKnight said. “Point isn’t my natural position, but I feel it’ll give me a better chance to really use all my abilities out there on the court. I’m learning how to play with pace as a point guard.”

He’s averaging 5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game for MU (5-6), which puts a modest two-game winning streak on the line tonight when Massachusetts comes to Millett Hall.

McKnight is the backup to junior Quinten Rollins at the point, and he’s playing just under 21 minutes a game. When they’re on the floor together, McKnight moves to the two-guard spot.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound McKnight admitted it’s not always easy to make that transition during a game. “Sometimes when we’re both in, we both feel like we can lead the fast break,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re on the same page.”

“McKnight is getting invaluable experience because he’s getting game experience,” Miami coach John Cooper said. “As he goes forward in his career, there will be things he’s able to look back at and really grow from.”

McKnight said the experience he gains in practice is invaluable as well. Running the No. 2 offense against the starters has helped him become a better ballhandler in pressure situations.

He knows he needs to cut down his turnovers (he has 23, one away from the team lead) and shoot better (he’s shooting 42.1 percent from the floor, 30.8 percent from 3-point range and 50.0 percent from the line). McKnight is confident those areas will improve.

“The turnovers, that just comes with maturing,” he said. “I’ve got to be whatever the team needs, and that’s a leader. If they need me to score, then I need to score. If they need me to play defense, then I need to play defense.”

Said Cooper, “He’s a freshman and has tough stretches at times, but that’s to be expected. He’s a competitive young man and a good kid. He’s made of the right stuff, so he’ll be fine.”

MAC on the horizon: Tonight is the RedHawks’ final tuneup for Mid-American Conference play. They’ll host Northern Illinois next Wednesday.

UMass (8-3) and Miami have one common opponent thus far — North Carolina State. The Wolfpack beat the Minutemen 94-76 and the RedHawks 97-59.