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Charlie Coles, the Miami University men's basketball coach, jestures as he responds to a reporters questions during an interview at his office on the school's campus in Oxford Wednesday Aug. 26, 2009.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman Charlie Coles, the Miami University men's basketball coach, jestures as he responds to a reporters questions during an interview at his office on the school's campus in Oxford Wednesday Aug. 26, 2009.

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 2:31 PM Monday, January 18, 2010

OXFORD — Charlie Coles became the all-time coaching leader in Mid-American Conference basketball victories with Miami University’s 79-67 win Saturday, Jan. 16, over Ohio University.

It was the 195th MAC win for Coles, one more than former Toledo coach Bob Nichols.

His reaction was vintage Charlie Coles.

“There were a lot of athletic directors who could have shown me the door but didn’t,” Coles said with a grin. “I don’t have exactly the highest winning percentage in the country.”

Coles’ record in MAC games is 195-133 over 19 seasons, including six at Central Michigan. His overall record is 321-263.

Roberts on the rise

Middletown’s Allen Roberts played a key role in Miami’s second-half comeback.

The freshman guard finished with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in just 12 minutes of playing time off the bench.

After Miami started the second half with a 17-0 run, Ohio’s Armon Bassett hit a 3-point basket to pull the Bobcats back to within six points of the RedHawks, 46-40.

It was Roberts who responded with five quick points, including a three-point play with 11:10 remaining, to put Miami firmly back in control.

“Roberts came in and did a good job for us,” Coles said. “He made some big baskets and had good passes to Antonio (Ballard) and Fletch (Adam Fletcher).”

Reliving the rivalry

There were just 2,204 fans at Millett Hall to watch the 184th meeting between Miami and Ohio. Among them was a vocal group of Bobcat students who had made the trip from Athens.

Coles said he was happy to see and hear them.

“I’m one of the few people, I think, that understand the long rivalry,” Coles said.

“When I played, we never won at Ohio, and in 1963-64 we had ’em at Withrow (Court), and at 4 o’clock there was a line from Withrow up to the President’s building ... Roudebush (Hall),” Coles added. “It was a warm night in late February, and if we win it, we win the title. We lost 63-60, I had a horrible game.”

The Bobcats went on to win the MAC and, in the NCAA tournament, came within one victory of making it to the Final Four.

“That has haunted me my entire life,” Coles said. “Even when we went to the Sweet 16, it didn’t take the sting away.

“Miami, the Bobcats, I enjoy that.”

Foul play at Millett

A total of 29 fouls were called against the Bobcats. Starting forward DeVaughn Washington fouled out after playing only seven minutes, and Miami went 26-for-37 from the free-throw line compared to Ohio’s 9-for-13.

Coles said he’s glad to see his team finally shooting more free throws than its opponents.

This is the same Miami team that attempted three free throws against the Cincinnati Bearcats in a 63-59 loss Dec. 10. The Bearcats attempted 32 free throws.

“I still can’t get over that,” Coles said.

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