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Miami (OH) RedHawks – Kent State Golden Flashes Preview – 01.12.2016

The Miami (OH) RedHawks (6-9) look to end their five-game losing streak when they meet the Kent State Golden Flashes (10-5) at Memorial A & C Center. Action gets underway at 7:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

The Golden Flashes were beaten by Buffalo 76-67 on Friday. Xavier Pollard finished with 21 points to lead the team. The RedHawks, meanwhile, are coming off an 84-76 loss against Toledo on Saturday. Eric Washington had a good shooting night, leading the team with 21 points.

Based on each team’s statistical profile, ball protection could play an integral role in this matchup. Kent State commits the 28th-fewest miscues in the nation (TO% of 15.6%), while the gambling defense of Miami (OH) forces the 10th-most (opponents’ TO% of 24.0%).

Kent State, a nine-point favorite, will look to capitalize at home against Miami (OH). The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is sitting at 138 points. While the Golden Flashes have a good Straight Up (SU) record (10-5), they’ve been poor Against The Spread (ATS) with a 4-7 record.

Over on the other bench, the RedHawks have records of 4-8 ATS and 6-9 SU. Miami (OH) has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 2-6 record.

This game marks the season’s first head-to-head clash between Kent State and Miami (OH). Their previous game was a RedHawks victory, evening up the two teams’ head-to-head record over their most recent games (5-5). However, Miami (OH) holds the advantage ATS with a record of 7-3. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Kent State held the edge in all three of these categories two times in the last five meetings. Miami (OH) never did so in those games.

Predictions: SU Winner – KentSt, ATS Winner – KentSt, O/U – Over

Notes

Kent State is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games.

Kent State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home.

Kent State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Miami (Ohio).

Kent State is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Miami (Ohio).

The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Kent State’s last 10 games when playing at home against Miami (Ohio).

Ranked 72nd, the Kent State Golden Flashes have an offensive rating of 111.3. The Miami (OH) RedHawks rank 193rd with a defensive rating of just 102.8.

The Miami (OH) RedHawks average a field goal percentage of 41.4% this season. The Kent State Golden Flashes have split their games this season (5-5) when opponents have a FG% of 41.4% or greater.

The Kent State Golden Flashes and the Miami (OH) RedHawks both rank higher in average field goal percentage when compared to their effective field goal percentages. Kent State is 188th and 102nd in the nation for eFG% and FG% respectively, while Miami (OH) ranks 314th and 296th in these categories.

Kent State ranks 67th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.26. Miami (OH) is ranked lower at 300th with an A/TO of .84.

The Kent State Golden Flashes make an average of 6.3 steals per game. The Miami (OH) RedHawks are 3-4 when they allow 6 or more steals.

Written by GMS Previews

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