Big second half propels RedHawks to preseason win

Kenny Hayes (14) of Miami, penetrates the lane, and leaps toward the hoop for a layup, during the exhibition game against Saginaw Valley State, Sunday, November 8th, 2009, at Millet Hall.

Contributed photos by Robert Leifheit Kenny Hayes (14) of Miami, penetrates the lane, and leaps toward the hoop for a layup, during the exhibition game against Saginaw Valley State, Sunday, November 8th, 2009, at Millet Hall.

Photos: 2009 Miami basketball

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 12:33 AM Thursday, November 12, 2009

OXFORD — For the second time in as many exhibition games, the Miami University men’s basketball team started slowly and finished fast.

The RedHawks trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half, but stormed back to defeat Saginaw Valley State 70-48 Sunday, Nov. 8, in a matchup that is becoming a preseason tradition at Millett Hall.

“A very slow start,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “We’ve got to find a way to take care of that. Two weeks in a row you’ve seen us get down, and today we got down even further (than last week). ”

Saginaw Valley State has come to Oxford for an exhibition game for three straight years, every year since Frankie Smith — who was an assistant coach at Miami under Coles — became the head coach of the Cardinals.

SVSU, which also has Coles’ son, Chris Coles, and former Miami player Barry Huckeby on its coaching staff, led 26-11 late in the first half behind the shooting of Keithan Jackson, who nailed three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points, and Avery Stephenson, who finished with 15 points.

The RedHawks outscored the Cardinals 45-20 in the second half and had three players score in double figures: Kenny Hayes (16 points), Kramer Soderberg (15) and Rodney Haddix (11).

Haddix connected on 3-of-3 from 3-point range and finished the exhibition season 8-for-8 from beyond the arc.

Soderberg, a 6-foot sophomore from St. Charles, Mo., drilled 5-of-8 shots from behind the arc and also had a team-high four assists.

Soderberg played in 27 games last year and came off the bench in all 27. He has started both exhibition contests this fall, however, and Coles — who has an abundance of talented guards on his roster — was asked if Soderberg’s strong play might make it difficult to take him off the floor.

“I have no plans to get him off the floor,” Coles said.

Miami opens its regular season Friday, Nov. 13, at Towson, with a 7 p.m. tip-off.

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