miami ohio basketball: RedHawks Keep Unbeaten Run Alive with 86-77 Win at Massachusetts
Miami (Ohio) survived a tense road test in Amherst, holding on for an 86-77 victory at Massachusetts to remain the country’s last unbeaten team. The win improved the RedHawks to 26-0 and extended a streak that has captured national attention, but it was hardly a comfortable night for the visitors.
Late-game poise seals a tight road victory
The RedHawks led for all but 47 seconds of the contest, yet the scoreboard never offered much breathing room. Miami traded baskets with the Minutemen in a high-scoring duel and finally put the game away in the closing minutes by making seven of their final eight attempts. That late flurry turned what had been a one-possession game into a nine-point margin at the final buzzer.
Guard Peter Suder carried the offense in the second half, finishing with a team-high 23 points. Suder’s crucial play in the final minutes included drawing a foul that knocked Massachusetts’ leading scorer out of the game, a turning point that helped preserve the RedHawks’ lead. Four Miami players reached double figures, a balanced scoring effort that has become a hallmark of this roster.
Defense, discipline and the road test that mattered
The trip to Mullins Center was widely viewed as one of Miami’s most difficult remaining regular-season challenges. The Minutemen fought to the end, staying within striking distance and forcing Miami to execute down the stretch. Miami’s defense tightened when it counted, and their composure in pressure situations separated the teams late.
Statistically, the matchup mirrored earlier encounters: both clubs pushed a fast pace and traded high-percentage looks. Miami’s ability to close the game — both by making shots and by drawing key fouls — proved decisive. The win also underscored the RedHawks’ success on the road this season; they’ve handled hostile environments while avoiding extended slumps that can derail long runs.
Looking ahead: the finish line and the national spotlight
With just five regular-season games remaining before the Mid-American Conference tournament, Miami returns home for another nationally-televised showdown on Feb. 20. The RedHawks will aim to protect the unbeaten streak while managing the increasing national scrutiny that accompanies a perfect record late in the season.
Questions remain about whether Miami can sustain this level of play across the final stretch: can the supporting cast keep producing, will the defense continue answering late-game challenges, and how will the team handle the added pressure of being the last unbeaten program? For now, the answers are secondary to the simple fact that the RedHawks keep winning.
The win in Amherst did more than preserve an unblemished ledger. It reinforced the team’s identity: opportunistic, balanced and unflappable. Whether that identity holds through the remaining regular-season slate and into March will determine how deep this story runs, but for the moment Miami’s fans have one more reason to celebrate — and perhaps to schedule a stress test with their cardiologist.
