OXFORD, Ohio — On a frigid Friday night in Oxford that felt more like a Feast Week semifinal than a Mid-American Conference rivalry game, the Miami University RedHawks stomped their longtime rival, the Ohio Bobcats, 90-74 before a sellout crowd at Millett Hall and kept alive one of the most remarkable runs in college basketball this season.
In front of 10,640 roaring fans — tying the school record for home attendance — No. 23 Miami (Ohio) improved to 25-0, leaving them as the only unbeaten Division I team remaining in college basketball. The RedHawks entered the game with that distinction and left with it intact, playing a complete brand of basketball that blended balance, firepower and defensive discipline.
Miami’s performance was anything but coy. Brant Byers led the way with 21 points, showing the kind of efficiency that has made him one of the nation’s most reliable scorers. Peter Suder added 20, continuing his breakout season and anchoring Miami’s offense in crunch time, while Eian Elmer chipped in 15 to round out a balanced attack that has been the backbone of their perfect run.
The victory wasn’t a fluke — it was a master class.
After a tight first 15 minutes saw the RedHawks clinging to a modest lead, Miami uncorked a scorching 9-of-18 performance from 3-point range and hit 21 of 28 free throws, a combination that allowed them to steadily pull away. On the boards, Miami’s edge (+9) created second-chance opportunities and limited Ohio’s transition chances.
Offense and Efficiency
What sets this RedHawks squad apart is not just undefeated status, but offensive potency and balance. Miami paces its opponents by averaging close to 93 points per game this season, fueled by a 53.7% field goal percentage and an effective field goal rate north of 60%, metrics that place them among the nation’s most efficient offenses. THE ONE-TWO PUNCH of Byers and Suder gives head coach Travis Steele a dual threat that defenses can’t key on without leaving someone else open.
In MAC play, Miami has been relentless: 11-0 in conference games with a blend of turning pressure into transition baskets and controlling tempo in the half court. That balance showed Friday as Miami built a halftime lead — and never relinquished it — before stretching their advantage as the second half wore on.
History, Rivalry and Spotlight
Friday’s win marked the 217th meeting in this storied rivalry — colloquially known as the “Battle of the Bricks” — and extended Miami’s momentum at home, where the RedHawks are nearly untouchable. Though Ohio owns the all-time series lead, Miami’s performance Friday night felt like a passing of the torch in this moment, with the unbeaten RedHawks outperforming the Bobcats on both ends.
But for a team chasing perfection, every win matters in the broader national picture.
What It Means Going Forward
Miami’s undefeated run has vaulted them into the national conversation. Not only do they remain the lone unbeaten team in Division I, they sit comfortably atop the Mid-American Conference and have tied a single-season program record for victories. They also sit in a sweet spot in the NCAA Evaluation Tool and NET metrics — factors that bolster their résumé if they keep winning against increasingly serious competition.
With roughly a month to go in the regular season and postseason implications looming, the RedHawks have done everything asked of them — and then some. A win over Ohio wasn’t just another victory; it was a statement: Miami belongs in the national conversation, and if this team continues on its current trajectory, a bid to the NCAA Tournament isn’t just likely — it’s well deserved.
From the stat sheet to the final buzzer, the chemistry and confidence on display Friday night weren’t fluky. They were compelling. They were dominant. And for the fans in Oxford — sold out in droves for a night that felt electric — they were a harbinger of what this program could achieve.
For now, the RedHawks remain unbeaten. And the rest of college basketball knows it.
Let’s see how long that perfect mark lasts — but one thing is certain: this Miami (Ohio) team isn’t just playing games.
They’re making history.
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