Ringo scores 16 as Miami tops Akron for first MAC win

TUESDAY’S GAME

OXFORD — Miami went into Saturday’s Mid-American Conference game against Akron in desperate need of a win.

The RedHawks were on a four-game losing streak, all in the MAC and by an average of 14 points, and they were hoping to avoid their second 0-5 conference start in four seasons and first since the 2015-2016 team dropped its first seven MAC games.

Before a crowd of 1,202 in the second game of a women’s-men’s doubleheader at Millett Hall, junior forward Bam Bowman sank three 3-pointers and scored 14 points and senior guard Darrian Ringo came up with a Miami at Ball State, 7 p.m., 980, 1450

team-high 16 points as Miami took command with a 21-2 second-half run on the way to 68-61 win over the Zips.

Bowman and Ringo led a balanced scoring attack in which 10 players scored at least two points and sophomore guard Milos Jovic scored six during the RedHawks’ decisive run. Ringo gave Miami (9-9, 1-4) the lead for good at 44-43 with a 3-pointer with 10:19 to play.

Bowman hauled in 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double and help the RedHawks dominate the boards. They finished with a 43-31 advantage in rebounds, helping overcome making just 11 of 20 free throws.

Ringo just missed a double-double with nine assists as Miami won its fourth straight game against Akron.

In the opener, junior guard Lauren Dickerson logged her first career double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds, and junior forward Savannah Kluesner added 18 points as Miami squeezed past Ball State, 60-57.

The RedHawks men are scheduled to travel to Muncie, Ind., on Tuesday for an inter-division matchup with Ball State before returning home to face Bowling Green at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the second game of a women’s-men’s doubleheader.