Ringo leads Miami (OH) to 80-69 win over Kent St (Jan 09, 2018)

OXFORD, Ohio (AP) Darrian Ringo scored 16 points, including 12 in the first half when Miami (Ohio) built a big lead, and added seven assists to guide the RedHawks to an 80-69 victory over Kent State on Tuesday night.

Nike Sibande finished with 17 points and six rebounds for the RedHawks (9-7, 2-1 Mid-American Conference), while Logan McLane grabbed nine rebounds and Rod Mills Jr. scored eight with seven boards and four assists. Ringo came into the game averaging 8.1 assists per game, fourth best in the country.

Adonis De La Rosa topped the Golden Flashes (7-9, 1-2) with 16 points and seven rebounds. Jalen Avery added 12 for the defending MAC champions, who lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Miami, which never trailed in the game, led 18-5 on a Ringo 3-pointer midway through the first half. A jumper by Mills capped an 18-0 run to push the lead to 36-8. Ringo's layup at the buzzer gave the RedHawks a 48-25 lead at intermission. Kent State got as close as eight points on a Kevin Zabo layup with 1:24 left to play, but Miami made 5 of 6 free throws from there to wrap up the win.