Miami (OH) Stuns SMU in First Four, Advances in NCAA Tournament

DAYTON, Ohio – Miami (Ohio) secured its first NCAA Tournament victory in 27 years with an impressive 89-79 win over SMU in the First Four on Wednesday night. The 11th-seeded RedHawks (32-1) showcased their offensive prowess, drilling 16 three-pointers and advancing to face No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Midwest Region.

Elmer Leads the Charge

Eian Elmer spearheaded Miami’s attack, scoring 23 points and connecting on 6 of 9 attempts from beyond the arc. Brant Byers contributed 19 points, including four three-pointers, although Luke Skaljac added 17 points for the RedHawks. Miami finished the game shooting 16-for-41 from three-point range.

SMU Falls Short

Despite a strong performance from Jaden Toombs, who led SMU with 20 points and 11 rebounds, the Mustangs (20-14) couldn’t contain Miami’s hot shooting. Jaron Pierre Jr. Scored 18 points and Boopie Miller added 15 for SMU.

First-Half Dominance

Miami jumped out to an early lead, building a 10-point advantage with 6:29 remaining in the first half and taking a 43-34 lead into halftime. SMU briefly took the lead early in the second half, but a 15-1 run by Miami quickly restored control, and the RedHawks never looked back.

Unbeaten Regular Season

Miami (Ohio) entered the tournament with an unblemished 31-0 regular season record, earning a spot in the First Four after being bounced in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament. This victory marks a significant milestone for the program, which hadn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2007.

Looking Ahead

The RedHawks now prepare for a challenging matchup against sixth-seeded Tennessee, an entirely recent test for a team that has already exceeded expectations. Miami (OH) has sent a clear message to the country: they belong in the NCAA Tournament and are capable of making a deep run.