Miami Redhawks Clash with Eastern Michigan Eagles in Must-Win Matchup

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks will face off against the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Tuesday at Gervin GameAbove Center in a critical Mid-American Conference matchup. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM EST.

The Redhawks (19-6, 10-2 MAC) are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 78-70 loss to Western Michigan this past Saturday, which halted their five-game winning streak. Currently in second place in the MAC, Miami trails first-place Akron by two games. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan (12-13, 5-7 MAC) is coming off a victory against Toledo, where they won 80-73, having secured two wins in their last three games, although they sit seven games behind in the conference standings.

Miami is known for its explosive offense, averaging 81.4 points per game while allowing 72.9 points, ranking 30th and 220th in the nation, respectively. The Redhawks boast the 77th-highest adjusted tempo, as per KenPom analytics, with a shooting accuracy of 48.8% from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc.

Leading the scoring efforts for Miami is Kam Craft, who averages 14.3 points per game on 44.6% shooting. He is closely followed by Peter Suder, who contributes 13.9 points per game with a shooting percentage of 51.2%. The team’s top scorers maintain impressive shooting percentages between 44.6% and 63.3%, while Suder holds the assists lead with an average of 3.5 per game.

Defensively, Miami allows 44.8% shooting overall and 34.9% from the three-point line. Antwone Woolfolk leads the Redhawks in rebounding with an average of 5.8 boards per game.

Conversely, Eastern Michigan averages 73.1 points per game but allows a troubling 77.3 points, ranking 214th and 319th nationally, respectively. The Eagles shoot at 46% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range, positioning them 111th and 168th, respectively, in those categories. Their defense has struggled, surrendering 46.6% shooting overall and 36.1% from three-pointers, ranking 323rd and 327th in the nation.

Jalen Terry is the top scorer for Eastern Michigan, averaging 16.0 points per game on 45.6% shooting, followed closely by De’Sean Nelson, who scores 15.9 points per game at 50% shooting. Nelson also leads the team in rebounds, averaging 5.7 per game, while Christian Henry averages 3.3 assists per game. Terry is also noted for his defensive prowess, leading the Eagles in steals at 1.5 per game.

In their last encounter on January 28, Miami defeated Eastern Michigan 89-80, covering the spread as 8.5-point favorites. The Redhawks’ offensive balance and shooting capabilities proved too much for the Eagles, who will need to improve defensively to contend in this rematch.

Analysis shows that Miami’s current offensive strategy can exploit Eastern Michigan’s defensive weaknesses. The Redhawks are also 4-2 against the spread in their last six games, including the win against the Eagles.

With Miami’s ability to score effectively and Eastern Michigan’s struggles in defense, experts predict a high-scoring game. In the previous matchup, 169 points were scored, easily surpassing the expected total of 153 points. Both teams have favorable scoring statistics as seen in their average points and shooting percentages, indicating that this trend may continue.

As the teams prepare to meet, the stakes remain high, particularly for Eastern Michigan, who will need a solid performance to stay competitive in the MAC.