“My entire playing career, I’ve been able to score at three levels,” Craft said. “Obviously this year, I’ve been shooting a lot more 3s than I ever have. I think I’m looking to attack the rim more — just be a three-level player, playmaker, while maintaining my 3-point ability.
“It felt great to see the ball go through the net,” Craft added. “As a shooter, I’m never losing confidence. So, no matter however many I miss in a row, I’m going to fire the next one up with the same amount of confidence that I did before.
“To see 10 of them go through, it’s a great feeling, and hopefully I can carry that on to the next couple of games.”
Miami (6-3) made a school-record 22 3-pointers. Brant Byers scored career-high 21 points off the bench while going 5 for 7 from 3-point range. Eian Elmer had 20 points.
Craft tied Jason Stewart (10 against Marshall in 2000) for the most made 3s in a game in program history.
“I think in our gameplan, it was to get out in transition, and my teammates did a great job of finding me in transition and getting me open,” Craft said. “I was able to hit shots today.”
The RedHawks opened things up with a putback layup from Antwone Woolfolk and a 3 from Craft. Craft later knocked down a pair of 3s to make it 14-3.
Byers joined the 3-point barrage by knocking down four treys to stretch Miami’s advantage at 35-13 with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
The RedHawks scored 15 unanswered points to take a 44-13 lead. Mekhi Cooper dished the ball to Reece Potter through the lane for a dunk to make it 51-18, and Miami entered the half with a 62-28 lead.
Peter Suder got the RedHawks going in the second half with an old-fashioned 3-point play. With the score at 67-34, Elmer and Craft scored the next 24 points for Miami, giving the RedHawks a 91-51 lead.
With 5:21 left in the game, Craft tied the program record for most made 3s with 5:21 left to play.
“Kam is a dynamic scorer,” Miami coach Travis Steele said. “He can shoot the ball from anywhere. I give him the neon green light.”
Back on track
The RedHawks went nine days without playing a game — and for good reason.
Miami just finished up finals week before hitting the court against Bethany on Sunday.
“We take that very seriously,” Steele said. “We don’t have any games during finals week. Practice was kind of hit and miss a little bit this week as well due to guys’ finals schedules.
“I thought we had a really good overall week of practice when we did practice. I thought our guys were energetic. You always kind of worry as a coach during this little break that guys will take the foot off the pedal, so to speak. I thought we improved a lot this week.”
Takeaway
Steele pointed out Miami’s inability to match its early defensive intensity in the second half.
“I thought our ball moved, and we took the right shots. We played really unselfish,” Steele said. “My frustration with our team was, and this is totally on me, the second half, I thought we completely played the score. You’ve got to be a mature team. You’ve got to be a faceless opponent. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. You’ve got to respect the game and play the game the right way.
“Details matter on defense, and I didn’t think they were there for us. Give Bethany credit, they made shots there in the second half. But we’ve got to be a heck of a lot better. Our defense has been trending in the right direction since the beginning of the season. But I felt like the second half it really took a step backwards — which isn’t good for us.”
In the know
The RedHawks knocked down a MAC-record 22 shots from behind the arc — which tied for the most by any Division I program this season. … Miami shot over 50% from 3 for the first time this season. … Cooper recorded a career-high five steals, and Suder set a career high with nine assists. … Miami had three players score 20 points in a game for the first time since Feb. 23, 2008. … Miami’s 112 points is the eighth-highest team total in program history.
Up next
Miami travels to Vermont on Wednesday, hosts Sacred Heart on Sunday, Dec. 22, and hosts Defiance on Monday, Dec. 30.
“We will turn the page very quickly,” Steele said.
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