Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Stun SMU in First Four, Secure NCAA Tournament Win After 27 Years

In a night of March Madness history-making, the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks delivered one of the most emphatic statements of the 2026 NCAA Tournament’s opening act. On Wednesday evening inside UD Arena in Dayton—just 60 miles from their Oxford, Ohio, campus—the RedHawks snapped a 27-year NCAA tournament victory drought with a statement 89-79 win over SMU in the First Four. The victory not only ended Miami’s tournament losing streak dating back to its lone Sweet 16 run in 1999 but also silenced critics who questioned the program’s legitimacy after an undefeated regular season marred by a late MAC tournament loss.

• Miami (Ohio) defeated SMU 89-79 in the First Four, ending a 27-year NCAA tournament win drought.
• The RedHawks shot 41 three-pointers and made 16, led by Eian Elmer’s 23 points, Brant Byers’ 19, and Luke Skaljac’s 17.
• Miami advanced to face No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Round of 64 on Friday.
• SMU, missing a key scorer, finished with a 20-14 record and six losses in its final seven games.
• Prairie View A&M also made history with its first NCAA tournament win, defeating Lehigh 67-55, shortly before Miami’s victory.

From Regular-Season Perfection to Tournament Doubt: How Miami (Ohio) Overcame the Bubble

For much of the 2025-26 college basketball season, the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks were college basketball’s feel-good story. The program, led by second-year head coach Travis Steele, posted a perfect 30-0 regular-season record—the first team to achieve that feat since Gonzaga’s historic 2020-21 campaign. The RedHawks dominated the Mid-American Conference (MAC), winning the regular-season title by three games with a 16-2 mark in league play. Their high-octane offensive style, ranked 44th nationally in adjusted tempo per KenPom, featured relentless three-point shooting and transition opportunities, making them a fan favorite and a statistical outlier in a league often associated with defensive battles.

The MAC Tournament Stumble That Put Miami on the Bubble

Yet perfection came crashing down in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament. On March 11, 2026, the RedHawks were stunned 74-69 by the University of Massachusetts, a team that finished sixth in the conference. The loss cost Miami an automatic bid and cast a long shadow over its NCAA Tournament hopes. Despite holding a gaudy 31-1 record, Miami’s NET ranking paled in comparison to major-conference contenders, and Selection Sunday became a nail-biting affair. The committee ultimately rewarded Miami with a No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region—placing the RedHawks in the First Four against SMU, a program also eager to erase its own tournament frustrations.

SMU, coached by Tim Jankovich, entered the tournament with a 20-14 record and a reputation as a program on the rise under Jankovich, who has overseen a resurgence since taking over in 2022. However, the Mustangs arrived in Dayton with momentum stalled: they had lost six of their final seven games, including a heartbreaking overtime defeat to Tulsa in the AAC Tournament quarterfinals. Even more concerning, SMU was missing its third-leading scorer, B.J. Edwards, due to an ankle injury—limiting a backcourt that had already struggled in recent weeks. Still, the Mustangs were seeded higher than Miami in most prognostications, and many expected them to advance comfortably.

A Statement Game: How Miami (Ohio) Dominated from Three and Silenced the Critics

From the opening tip, Miami made it clear they were not intimidated. The RedHawks attacked SMU with an unrelenting barrage of three-point attempts, launching 41 in total and making 16—a staggering 39% accuracy rate from beyond the arc. The long-range shooting was not a fluke; it was strategy. Miami had averaged more than 11 three-point attempts per game during the regular season, but on this night, they unleashed their entire offensive playbook in a single game.

The Elmer Effect: A Star is Born in the First Four

Leading the charge was junior wing Eian Elmer, who delivered a virtuoso performance. Elmer, who earned MAC Player of the Year honors, started the game with a flurry, scoring 14 points in the first half on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, including 4-of-5 from three. His ability to play off the ball and catch-and-shoot created nightmarish matchups for SMU’s defense. But it was on the fast break where Elmer truly announced himself to the college basketball world. On a sequence orchestrated by senior guard Peter Suder, Elmer received a high bounce pass near the sideline and finished with a one-handed dunk—a highlight that symbolized Miami’s energy and athleticism.

Elmer finished with 23 points and became the emotional leader of a team that had been doubted all season. "We knew we belonged," Elmer said after the game, reflecting on the team’s resilience. "We just had to go out and prove it." His performance, combined with the heroics of sophomore guard Luke Skaljac (17 points) and redshirt sophomore Brant Byers (19 points), gave Miami a cushion that SMU could never fully erase.

SMU’s Collapse: Missed Shots, Missing Scorers, and a Lack of Answers

SMU’s offensive identity had long relied on guard play, and without Edwards in the lineup, the Mustangs struggled to generate consistent scoring. Boopie Miller and Jaron Pierre Jr. carried the load, but Miller, a transfer from TCU, shot just 6-of-17 from the field, including 1-of-5 from three. SMU finished the game 5-of-21 from deep, a stark contrast to Miami’s barrage. The Mustangs’ lone consistent scorer was center Jaden Toombs, who poured in 20 points and 11 rebounds, but even his efforts weren’t enough to overcome Miami’s firepower.

The game’s turning point came midway through the second half when Miami went on a 13-0 run, fueled by Byers’ clutch three-pointer and a 5-point burst from Almar Atlason, a graduate transfer from Bradley. Toombs briefly rallied SMU with a dunk and a layup, tying the game at 47 with 14 minutes left. But from there, Miami’s three-point shooting took over. Skaljac’s transition three with 7:18 left put the RedHawks ahead for good, and a late flurry by SMU—including a dunk by Corey Washington and a three from Miller—only trimmed the deficit to seven with two minutes remaining. Elmer sealed the win with a backdoor cut and a one-handed slam, ensuring Miami’s first tournament victory since 1999.

A Historic Night in the First Four: Prairie View A&M Joins the Winners’ Circle

While Miami’s victory captured national attention, it was not the only milestone of the evening. Earlier in the night, Prairie View A&M—competing in its first NCAA Tournament since 2010—made program history with a 67-55 win over Lehigh. The SWAC champions, who finished the regular season 9-16, stormed back from a 10-point deficit in the second half and rode a 25-point, 7-rebound, 4-steal performance from senior guard Dontae Horne to secure their first-ever tournament win. The victory was part of a remarkable turnaround for a program that had won just five games the previous season.

What’s Next for Miami (Ohio)? A Shot at a Second Round Upset Against Tennessee

With their First Four triumph in the books, the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks now face their stiffest challenge yet: a matchup against No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Round of 64 on Friday evening in Columbus, Ohio. The Volunteers, coached by Rick Barnes, are a veteran team led by All-SEC forward Jonas Aidoo and guard Zakai Zeigler. Tennessee enters the tournament as a legitimate Final Four contender, boasting a 28-6 record and a top-10 KenPom rating. However, Barnes’ teams have had their share of NCAA Tournament struggles in recent years, and Miami’s offensive firepower could pose a unique problem.

If Miami can replicate their three-point shooting against Tennessee, they will have a real chance to extend their Cinderella run. But the Volunteers’ ability to defend the perimeter and control the game’s tempo will be critical. For Steele’s squad, the goal is simple: win one more game and advance to the Round of 32. Anything beyond that would rewrite Miami’s basketball legacy.

The Road Ahead: Can Miami (Ohio) Keep the Momentum Going?

Miami’s victory over SMU was more than just a first-round win—it was a statement. For a program that spent the better part of the season battling skepticism, the RedHawks proved they belong among the nation’s elite. Their offensive style, built on speed and three-point shooting, is tailor-made for the NCAA Tournament’s unpredictable landscape. But the road to the Sweet 16 remains treacherous, especially against a Tennessee team with Final Four aspirations. Still, the memories of March Madness are made by underdogs, and Miami has already shown it’s capable of more than anyone expected.

Key Takeaways from Miami (Ohio)’s NCAA Tournament Debut

• Miami (Ohio) ended a 27-year NCAA tournament win drought with an 89-79 victory over SMU in the First Four, validating their undefeated regular season and silencing critics.
• The RedHawks shot 16-of-41 from three-point range, led by Eian Elmer’s 23 points, Brant Byers’ 19, and Luke Skaljac’s 17, showcasing their high-octane offensive identity.
• SMU, missing key scorer B.J. Edwards and plagued by poor shooting (5-of-21 from three), finished its season with six losses in seven games.
• Prairie View A&M made program history with its first NCAA tournament win, defeating Lehigh 67-55 hours before Miami’s victory.
• Miami now faces a daunting Round of 64 matchup against No. 6 Tennessee, a team with Final Four aspirations, but the RedHawks have already proven they’re not to be underestimated.

The Broader Impact: What Miami’s Win Means for Mid-Major Basketball

Miami’s triumph carries significance beyond its own campus. In an era where mid-major programs often struggle to gain respect in the NCAA Tournament selection process, the RedHawks’ undefeated regular season and subsequent tournament win send a message: regular-season performance matters. Programs like Miami, who dominate their conferences but lack the metrics of power-conference teams, often face scrutiny during Selection Sunday. Yet Miami’s victory proves that undefeated regular seasons—especially in leagues with rigorous schedules like the MAC—should not be dismissed. It also highlights the growing influence of analytics in tournament selection, where metrics like NET and Wins Above Bubble can sometimes overshadow traditional records.

Frequently Asked Questions About Miami (Ohio)’s NCAA Tournament Run