By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

Just when the Miami RedHawks rediscover the secret to winning road games, they have to return home.

Fresh off beating longtime rival Ohio on the Bobcats' home court, the RedHawks host Akron at 7 p.m. today for their third game in the last seven days.

Miami (5-9, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) leapfrogged the Zips (7-6, 2-2), who lost Saturday at Bowling Green, for sole possession of third place in the East Division, one game behind Kent State and a half-game behind Marshall.

Derrick Tarver leads Akron in scoring with 23.7 points per game, while John Hollingsworth is second at 19.8.

"They've got two good guards," RedHawks coach Charlie Coles said. "Tarver's a handful. He'll go inside and outside, and he'll post you up like crazy. He's very good.

"They've got a different kind of ballclub. Their strength is their speed. We've got a challenge."

Today's game serves as a reunion for Miami sophomore forward Danny Horace. He'll welcome two familiar faces - Akron sophomore forward Darryl Peterson, his Western Hills High School teammate, and Zips second-year assistant coach Lannis Timmons, his high school coach - to Millett Hall. Peterson averages 14.1 points in 13 games, 11 of them starts.

In their 77-65 win over Ohio on Saturday, the RedHawks got a career-high 22 points from junior guard Chet Mason while scoring their second-highest points total this season. They set their season high in a 78-63 win over Dayton on Dec.4.

Miami also snapped an eight-game road losing streak that dated back to last season while shooting 48 percent (25-of-52) from the field. The RedHawks were shooting 39 percent coming into the game.

"We've been getting wide-open 3s," Coles said. "If we improve our shooting, that will make us that much more effective. Then they've got to guard us."

Miami switched to a 2-3 zone defense in the second half, when Ohio committed 12 of its 17 turnovers. The RedHawks took advantage, outscoring the Bobcats 47-34 in the second half and sealing it by sinking 8 of 10 free throws in the last two minutes.

Akron at Miami

Tipoff: 7 p.m. today, Millett Hall (9,200), Oxford.

Records: Miami 5-9 (3-2 Mid-American Conference), Akron 7-6 (2-2 MAC).

TV: None.

Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WMOH-AM (1450), WFMG-FM (101.3).

Series: Miami leads 15-10.

AKRON

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Derrick Tarver	Jr.	6-4	23.7
J.Hollingsworth	Jr.	6-1	19.8
Darryl Peterson	So.	6-5	14.1
Andy Hipsher	Jr.	6-8	8.2
By.Thompson	Jr.	6-7	4.2

Coach: Dan Hipsher (92-114, eighth season; 218-159 overall).

MIAMI

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Juby Johnson	Jr.	6-5	14.1
Chet Mason	Jr.	6-3	10.6
Danny Horace	So.	6-5	10.1
Josh Hausfeld	Fr.	6-3	4.9
Bryan Reed	Sr.	6-6	2.4

Coach: Charlie Coles (112-87, seventh season; 204-173 overall)