Dip in free throws hurts RedHawks

Despite lopsided stat, Miami has played well in its last three road games.

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2:26 AM Wednesday, January 25, 2012

By Pete Conrad

Staff Writer

OXFORD — There was a time this season when Miami University’s basketball team had a solid advantage at the free-throw line, shooting and making more foul shots than their opponents.

Since the start of the Mid-American Conference season the reverse is true and coach Charlie Coles is concerned.

It started in Miami’s 69-62 loss at Vanderbilt, where the RedHawks turned in a strong showing despite going 1-for-1 at the line whole the Commodores went 15-for-17.

In the five ensuing MAC games, Miami is 39-of-58 at the foul line and the opposition is 76-of-107.

“We’re down 49 at the free throw line in the MAC season and that’s very surprising,” said Coles, whose team begins play against West Division teams with tonight’s home game against Toledo.

“We have to work harder on getting to the free throw line,” he said. “We’ve probably got to get Julian (Mavunga) moving a little better because he’s the guy who gets to the free throw line the most for us.”

Mavunga, the RedHawks’ leading scorer at 17.8 points per game, has shot 141 free throws. That’s 110 more than anyone else on the team.

Another lopsided statistic shows that in Miami’s 69-65 loss at Ohio on Saturday. The Bobcats were 18-of-27 from the line and the RedHawks were 3-of-5, and it was senior forward Adam Thomas — who played 10 minutes off the bench — who shot all five free throws.

“I’m going to look at the tapes (of the Bowling Green and Ohio games) very carefully because I want to know if we’re getting fouled and they’re not calling it, and are we getting inside to the hole the way we should,” Coles said.

In spite of the free throw disparity, Miami has turned in strong performances in its last three road games at Vanderbilt, Kent State and Ohio in front of a total of 30,954 extremely vocal fans.

“I’m asking the team to examine their mind-set in those games with the large crowds,” Coles said. “We had great efforts in all three of those games. We played well enough to win all three of them.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or Pete.Conrad@coxinc.com.

Today’s game

Who: Toledo Rockets (9-10, 1-4 MAC) at Miami RedHawks (5-12, 1-4)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Millett Hall, Oxford

Radio: WMOH-AM (1450)

TV: None

Series: Miami leads 68-49

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