- The Miami RedHawks became college basketball's 21st team to complete a perfect regular season when they survived to improve to 31-0.
- Miami's most bitter rival, Ohio U., stood in the way of perfection, and the RedHawks lived up to the challenge with an overtime victory.
- Miami became the first Mid-American Conference team to finish the regular season unbeaten.
Could it happen any other way but a heart-stopping finish?
For the first time in school history, the Miami RedHawks completed an undefeated regular season with a 110-108 win over archrival Ohio.
It was anything but an easy win for the RedHawks. After leading by as many as 10 points in the second half, Ohio came all the way back to tie the game at 100-100 with just 40 seconds remaining. That was the score as the horn sounded in regulation, sending the game to overtime.
The RedHawks survived a last second shot by Ohio's Jackson Paveletzke to win, 110-108. The cardiac RedHawks struck again.
At 31-0, the RedHawks are the first team in Mid-American Conference history to go undefeated in the regular season. Nationally, Miami becomes just the 21st school to accomplish the feat and first since Gonzaga in 2020-21.
Miami hadn't secured a win inside Ohio University's Convocation Center since 2011, losing 11 straight before Friday's win. To achieve perfection right under a rival's nose; what could be sweeter than that?
For the RedHawks, the job isn't finished. Head coach Travis Steele's crew will head to the MAC tournament, where their mission is clear, as the top seed.
"Leave absolutely no doubt about who we are," Steele said.
Read on to see how the RedHawks broke their Convocation Center curse and achieved college basketball immortality.
Follow below to see how Miami's historic victory unfolded.
Justin Kirby missed a free throw, giving Paveltzke a shot for the win but it falls short. Miami survives again!
Peter Suder hits leading FTs | Miami 109, Ohio 108 4.7 OT
Senior captain Peter Suder just hit the biggest free throws of his life. Miami up 1-point with the ball after Paveletzke can't convert a layup. Justin Kirby headed to the line.
Woolfolk fouls out as Paveletzke misses chance to tie | Miami 107, Ohio 106 1:05 OT
Antwone Woolfolk just picked up his fifth foul as Jackson Paveletzke gets the hoop and foul, but he missed the free throw.
Miami, Ohio trading blows in OT | Miami 105, Ohio 104 2:44 OT
Eian Elmer just converted on two free throws to put the RedHawks back on top.
Overtime in Miami vs Ohio! | Miami 100, Ohio 100 End of regulation
Could the season end any other way? After neither school could score on its final possession, there will be free basketball in Athens, Ohio.
Tied ball game with 35 seconds to go | Miami 100, Ohio 100 35.3 2H
The Bobcats have the energy and the momentum as Javan Simmons tied the game on a layup. RedHawks ball with 35.3 on the clock.
Barn-burner under way in Athens | Miami 95, Ohio 93 3:15 2H
Miami's Trey Perry stepped up in another huge moment, scoring 5 straight points to give the RedHawks the tiniest amount of breathing room. While not a sell-out crowd, the Bobcats faithful are rocking after a Aidan Hadaway bucket. Cardiac RedHawks will need to be on full display to protect the undefeated season.
Fan throws object onto court | Miami 88, Ohio 88 6:08 2H
Ohio hit a big 3-pointer to tie up the game, but an Ohio fan threw an object onto the court after Trey Perry was fouled. Loud chants of explitives filling the Convocation Center.
RedHawks fouls proving tough to overcome | Miami 86, Ohio 83 7:03 2H
After leading by 10 points just three minutes ago, the RedHawks now find themselves up just a single possession with Ohio at the line. Almar Atlason just picked up his third foul, and was earlier called for a flagrant foul. Ohio has scored 12 points at the line this half alone.
Miami picks up its third technical foul | Miami 77, Ohio 60 10:15 2H
This time it was Antwone Woolfolk picking up the technical after a common foul. Ohio hit three free throws to bring the game back from a 10-point deficit.
Ohio goes cold to pad Miami lead | Miami 74, Ohio 65 11:54 2H
After Ohio cut the Miami lead to 65-64, the Bobcats fell ice cold. They've gone over three minutes without a field goal, allowing Miami to build another 9-point lead. Eian Elmer has continued his big night with 7 second-half points, bringing him to 20 for the game already.
Miami dealing with quick foul trouble | Miami 65, Ohio 62 15:15 2H
Miami is off to a fast offensive start but fouls are starting to rack up. The RedHawks picked up five fouls before the first media timeout, giving Peter Suder his third and Antwone Woolfolk his second.
After review, Brant Byers was charged with a dead-ball technical foul. The successful free throws bring Ohio within a single possession.
Trey Perry gets the credit for building positive momentum into halftime. After his quick 9 points, Miami finished the half hitting 11 of its last 13 shots. That included eight buckets in a row to build up a 10-point lead with two minutes to go.
Ohio's Dior Connors took it upon himself to close the gap before halftime. He hit back-to-back 3-pointers to get the Bobcats within 4 points, but Eian Elmer knocked in a jumper as time expired to put Miami up 54-48.
Eian Elmer leads the RedHawks with 13 points and freshman Trey Perry is also in double-figures with 10 points. For the Bobcats, Jackson Paveletzke has dropped 14 points on 5-8 shooting and big man Javan Simmons has scored 11.
Peter Suder gets technical foul | Miami 48, Ohio 40 2:15 1H
After finishing through contact for the hoop and harm, Peter Suder had some words for Ohio's Javan Simmons. The referees were quick to step in, assessing the technical foul. Ohio would make both technical free throws.
