No letdown for RedHawks in home opener

After Tuesday’s stimulating 72-69 win at defending Atlantic Coast Conference-champion Georgia Tech, the possibility of a Miami letdown in its home

opener Saturday against Lamar was distinct.

Unfortunately for the visiting Cardinals, the RedHawks remained motivated. They went 12-for-20 on 3-pointers in the first half and 17-of32 in the game while leading by as many as 38 points before settling for a 104-75 non-conference win.

Junior guard Dae Dae Grant, a preseason sec- ond-team all-Mid-American Conference pick, sank six 3-point shots and scored a game-high 20 points.

“We talked about it a little bit,” Grant said, referring to the Georgia Tech game. “That was a great win, but we have to move on to the next game.”

“Our guys have a mature approach,” coach Jack Owens said. “We talked about it a little bit. We talked about how we have to play at a high level every time out. We always talk playing at a high level at all times.”

Senior guard Mekhi Lairy, who led Miami with 23 points at Georgia Tech, scored 15 on Saturday. Fifth-year senior forward Dalonte Brown added 13 for the RedHawks in the first meeting between the two teams.

Sophomore forward Kamari Williams scored 12 and senior forward Elijah McNamara also reached double figures with 10 points. Senior guard Isaiah Cole- man-Lands just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 assists, tying his career high.

Miami shot 53.1% on 3-pointers against Lamar after making just 6-of-31 (19.4%) at Georgia Tech.

“We have great shooters,” Grant said. “That’s a strength, but that’s not our bread-and-butter. That’s not our cup of tea. We always try to get to the basket.”

Owens, starting his fifth season at Miami, was

impressed that the RedHawks racked up 27 assists on 39 made field goals.

“We talk about playing the right way,” Owens said. “It’s great to see guys pass up shots to get better shots. It’s always about one more (pass). They don’t care about scoring. They play the right way, but we still have a lot of things we can correct on offense.”

Most of the starters were on the ben c h midway through the second half, but the RedHawks still reached triple figures in scoring for the first time since their 10970 win over Rio Grande on Dec. 17, 2017.

The RedHawks never trailed and Grant went 6-for-9 from the field, all of them 3-pointers, on his way to 18 first half points.

Miami, 2-0 for the first time since winning the first three games of the 2017-2018 season, is scheduled to continue its run of four consecutive home games on Wednesday against Stetson.