2 months ago
Eian Elmer scored 22 points and Miami (Ohio) hit SMU 89-79 connected Wednesday nighttime successful nan First Four for their first NCAA Tournament triumph successful 27 years.
Elmer went 6 of 9 from three-point scope arsenic nan 11th-seeded RedHawks (32-1), undefeated during nan regular season, precocious successful nan Midwest Region to play No 6 seed Tennessee.
Brant Byers added 19 points, including 4 threes, and Luke Skaljac had 17 points for Miami, making their first NCAA Tournament quality since 2007. The RedHawks vanished 16 of 41 from three-point range.
“The connection I gave our guys earlier nan crippled was they should time off nary uncertainty pinch who nan much attacking squad was,” Miami (Ohio) coach Travis Steele said. “I thought that was very evident from nan jump shot each nan measurement to nan extremity of nan game.”
Jaden Toombs led SMU (20-14) pinch 20 points and 11 rebounds. Jaron Pierre Jr scored 18 points and Boopie Miller had 15 for nan Mustangs, who reached nan NCAA Tournament for nan first clip successful 9 years. They’re still looking for their first triumph successful nan arena since 1988.
Miami went 31-0 during a captivating regular play – nan only Division I squad to spell unbeaten successful 2025-26 and conscionable nan nation’s eighth undefeated regular play successful nan past 50 years.
But nan RedHawks mislaid their MAC Tournament opener to UMass, putting their NCAA Tournament hopes successful jeopardy because of a schedule that classed 339th successful wide spot and featured nary Quadrant 1 games.
Some analysts and critics questioned whether they belonged successful nan section pinch an at-large bid, but Miami silenced immoderate skeptics Wednesday pinch a rousing triumph complete an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent.
“We’re not really focused connected proving whether we belong, honestly,” Elmer said. “Everybody successful nan locker room thinks we do. I conscionable deliberation if thing we’re conscionable going to spell retired there, play our hardest and person fun.”
Elmer had 14 points and went 4 of 6 from three-point scope successful nan first half. Byers deed back-to-back threes to springiness Miami an 11-point lead.
“They put 5 guys connected nan tribunal that tin sprout nan three, truthful they’re difficult to guard,” SMU coach Andy Enfield said. “We outscored them successful nan overgarment 46-20 tonight, which was our crippled scheme to really effort to people nan shot successful nan lane.”
SMU missed its first 7 three-point attempts earlier Pierre connected pinch 7:02 remaining successful nan first half. The Mustangs went 5 of 19 from agelong distance.
Almar Atlason deed a brace of threes to springiness nan RedHawks a 63-50 advantage early successful nan 2nd half. He scored 12 points.
Skaljac’s modulation 3 extended Miami’s lead to 71-57.
SMU had a size advantage, but foul problem negated immoderate of that. Mustangs 7ft 2in halfway Samet Yigitoglu fouled retired pinch 1:31 remaining. He vanished pinch 8 points and six rebounds.
The undersized RedHawks matched SMU pinch 35 rebounds and 17 second-chance points.
“Listen, our group is uber-confident,” Steele said. “We cognize we belong. I told our guys afterwards, man, I’m happy, but nan occupation is not finished. We want to proceed to beforehand successful this thing.”
No 16 Prairie View A&M 67, No 16 Lehigh 55
Dontae Horne scored 25 points and Cory Wells had 19 arsenic Prairie View A&M earned their first NCAA Tournament victory, 67-55 complete Lehigh connected Wednesday nighttime successful nan First Four.
Lance Williams added 10 points for nan Panthers (19-17), who are making their 3rd tourney appearance. They beforehand arsenic nan No. 16 seed successful nan South Region to look apical seed and defending nationalist champion Florida connected Friday successful Tampa, Florida.
Lehigh starring scorer Nasir Whitlock went scoreless for much than 26 minutes and vanished pinch 5 points. He was 2-of-15 shooting.
The past clip Whitlock did not scope double figures was connected 9 November, erstwhile he had 2 points successful a 69-47 nonaccomplishment astatine West Virginia.
Hank Alvey led Lehigh (18-17) pinch 23 points.
