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RedHawks beaten by Bobcats’ 3-pointer at buzzer

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Miami's Adam Fletcher (41) takes a shot as Antonio Ballard (35) looks on during the RedHawks' 70-68 loss at Ohio on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.

Photo by Alex K. Stein Miami's Adam Fletcher (41) takes a shot as Antonio Ballard (35) looks on during the RedHawks' 70-68 loss at Ohio on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.

Hayes had put Miami ahead with 7.7 seconds left, but Ohio comes right back with a trey set up perfectly for Freeman.

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By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer Updated 7:43 AM Thursday, February 25, 2010

ATHENS — The basketball rivalry lived up to its fame, and Tommy Freeman lived up to his name.

Freeman, an Ohio University junior guard, repeatedly got free on the perimeter Wednesday night, Feb. 24, and made 6-of-8 3-pointers, including a huge one with sixth-tenths of a second remaining to lift the Bobcats to a wild, court-storming 70-68 victory against Miami University at the Convocation Center.

“We knew Freeman had been hot at home, and that was my fear that he was gonna get some shots,” RedHawks coach Charlie Coles said. “That last shot he made was a tough shot, and it attests to how tough the young man is to make that kind of shot under pressure like that.”

Miami senior guard Kenny Hayes hit a driving layup to give Miami a 68-67 lead with 7.7 seconds left, but the Bobcats beat the RedHawks down the floor, and freshman guard D.J. Cooper found Freeman on the right wing. He shot-faked, curled around a screen by Kenneth Van Kempen and fired up a trey that resulted in the 13th and final lead change of a seesaw second half.

“I didn’t know how much time was on the clock, but I knew I was gonna have to take the shot,” said Freeman, who scored 19 points and tied his career high with the six 3-pointers.

“I tried to slow down as much as I could and shoot it like any other shot,” Freeman continued. “Honestly I thought it was off when I let it go. It didn’t feel good leaving my hands, but I’m glad that I was wrong.”

Miami (12-16, 8-6 Mid-American Conference) led by six at halftime and played even better in the second half.

Led by Hayes, who scored 13 of his team’s final 17 points, the RedHawks made 64 percent of their shots after halftime and went a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. But some late-game mistakes left the door cracked open for the Bobcats (16-13, 6-8).

“We got caught lollygagging a couple of times, and they got a couple of easy baskets within a few seconds and they really didn’t burn any time off the clock,” said Hayes, who finished with a team-high 20 points to go along with six assists and no turnovers. “It’s a rivalry game, and sometimes that’s how rivalry games go. We’ve just got to forget about it and keep our heads up.”

As good as Hayes was, OU junior DeVaughn Washington was even better, making 8-of-12 shots from the floor and 9-of-9 free throws for a game-high 25 points. And he also turned in the defensive play of the game, stealing an inbounds pass with 22 seconds remaining and the Bobcats down by a point. Fouled on the way to the basket, Washington hit both free throws to put OU back in front.

“Washington, Washington, Washington,” Coles lamented. “Boy, was he something else? I kept wanting him to miss free throws, and he never did.

“I thought we came into the game and did about what we wanted to do and put ourselves in a terrific position to win,” Coles said. “But you have to give OU credit.”

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