Kalamazoo, Michigan — trey perry Scored on a driving layup with one second remaining, and No. 21 miami of ohio set out to defeat western michigan 69-67 Friday night extended its season-opening winning streak to 29 games.
The RedHawks (16–0 Mid-American Conference) remain the only undefeated team in Division I men’s basketball. Miami got off to the best start in program history and tied its school record for wins in a season. Miami also has the best start and longest winning streak in MAC history.
According to ESPN Research, Miami is also the fourth Division I team in the last 20 years to enter March undefeated. The previous three (2013–14 Wichita State, 2014–15 Kentucky and 2020–21 Gonzaga) all went undefeated in the NCAA Tournament.
Peter Suder Scored 18 points for the RedHawks before fouling out with just over seven minutes remaining. Almar Atlason Added 16 points, Perry finished with 14 points Ian Elmer 10.
jaden brewer Led Western Michigan (10-19, 4-12) with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Justice Williams And EJ Ryans Each added 14 points.
Miami is accustomed to playing close games and won by less than six points for the seventh time this season.
“Our group is impeccable,” Miami coach Travis Steele said. “It’s cool, calm and collected. It’s very much the same throughout, even during difficult moments.”
The RedHawks trailed 30–26 at halftime and trailed by eight points twice early in the second half to tie the score 49–49 with 11:02 remaining.
Western Michigan ran off eight straight points to take a 57–49 lead with 8:40 remaining and took a 59–50 lead with 6:38 remaining, before Miami pulled away and went ahead 66–65 on a layup. antwone woolfolk With 14 seconds remaining.
Elmer’s free throw with 37 seconds left gave the RedHawks a 67–65 lead, but Western Michigan tied it on a Williams basket with 11 seconds left before Perry scored the winner.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
