Thursday, March 13th, 9:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Quicken Loans Arena (20,562) -- Cleveland, Ohio. Television: FSN. Home Record: Miami-OH 9-3, Ohio 12-1. Away Record: Miami-OH 4-10, Ohio 5-9. Neutral Record: Miami-OH 3-1, Ohio 2-1. Conference Record: Miami-OH 9-7, Ohio 9-7. Series Record: Ohio leads, 93-87.

GAME NOTES: The fifth-seeded Miami-Ohio RedHawks will try to move a step closer to retaining the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship when they take on the fourth-seeded Ohio Bobcats this evening in quarterfinal play at Quicken Loans Arena. With their head coach Charlie Coles hospitalized for a heart procedure, the RedHawks took the floor in hopes of moving closer towards repeating as conference champions. Buffalo put up a fight, but the RedHawks were able to slip past the Bulls, 69-68. It was a thrilling win for Miami, which closed out its regular season with four losses in its last seven games. Last season Miami claimed its fourth MAC title with a 53-52 win over Akron. As for the Bobcats, they collected 19 victories on the season, including a 9-7 mark in league action. Ohio has been very successful in this tournament, posting a 27-22 ledger to go along with four titles (1983, 1985, 1994, 2005). The victor in this contest will move to the semifinal-round to take on either Toledo or Kent State. With respect to the all-time series between the two schools on the hardwood, the Bobcats hold a 93-87 edge over Miami-Ohio. During the season, the teams split a pair meetings with both schools winning on their home floor.

Miami-Ohio's success can be attributed to the team's tremendous efforts at the defensive end of the floor, as the RedHawks are surrendering a MAC-best 60.9 ppg on the season. Miami put forth another strong defensive performance in the opening round of the tournament, as the RedHawks disposed of Buffalo, 69-68. In the win, the RedHawks limited Buffalo to a mere 40.0 percent shooting effort, which included an equally meager 7-o-24 showing from behind the arc. At the other end of the court, the RedHawks used a 20-of-24 clip from the foul line and shot 45.8 percent in the win. Michael Bramos, who is leading the team with 16.5 ppg, paced the team against Buffalo with 23 points. Tim Pollitz added 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the win, while Kenny Hayes tallied 11 points. Pollitz has been the main source of production in the paint for Miami-Ohio, as the forward is netting 16.1 ppg to go along with a team-best 7.0 rpg. As a whole, the RedHawks are shooting 46.3 percent from the field, but are averaging just 63.2 ppg.

The Bobcats possess an extremely dangerous frontcourt pairing in Leon Williams and Jerome Tillman. Williams has been a mad man down low for Ohio, producing 16.2 ppg to go along with a team-best 9.6 rpg. As for Tillman, he heads into this game netting 13.0 ppg, and is also collecting a strong 7.3 rpg. Controlling the play in the backcourt is Bubba Walther, who is chipping in 12.2 ppg to go along with 96 assists. As a whole, Ohio is producing a mediocre 67.3 ppg, while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor. Defensively, the Bobcats have been able to limit the opposition to just 64.0 ppg, and has held teams to a 43.5 percent showing from the floor. However, the last two times the team took the floor, Ohio surrendered 80 points in both games, losing to Akron, 80-77, and defeated Buffalo, 94-80.

These two schools will likely battle it out in the paint, so expect a physical matchup. Miami has far more experience and should be able to put forth another strong defensive effort en route to another tournament win.

Predicted Outcome

Miami-Ohio 69, Ohio 65