More than 9,000 people packed Millett Hall on Jan. 27 to watch the No. 24 Miami University men’s basketball team (21-0) take on the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen. Fans began filling the stands over an hour before tip-off for the nationally-televised clash of Mid-American Conference (MAC) foes. With a total attendance of 9,223, it would be the 10th-largest crowd at Millett.
Without sophomore guard and regular starter Luke Skaljac, who missed the game due to illness, four Miami players featured for more than 30 minutes of game time each.
As a result, freshman guard Justin Kirby got his first start in a RedHawk uniform, scoring 13 points along with three assists and seven rebounds. Kirby impressed with his hustle plays, saving balls and fighting for rebounds throughout the game.
The game came down to the final minutes, as Miami took the final lead with 4:19 to go. Junior wing Eian Elmer scored a career-high 30 points, shooting 9-14 (64.3%) from the field and 6-11 (54.5%) on 3-pointers.
The Minutemen dominated the first half and took a 47-43 lead into halftime. Graduate transfer guard Marcus Banks had an explosive half from the field, shooting 4-5 and knocking down three 3-pointers. Junior guard Jayden Ndjigue would also score seven points and have two assists in the half.
Miami’s senior guard Peter Suder scored eight points and dished out five assists to help the RedHawk offense. Along with five 3-point shots from Elmer, Miami kept its deficit at four points going into the second half.
The RedHawks continued to chip away at the deficit in the second half. They would limit Banks to 18 points on the night and prevent Ndjigue from impacting the rest of the game.
Bettiol picked up the slack for the Minutemen as he exploded for 22 points, shooting 8-9 from the charity stripe. Grabbing 16 rebounds, Bettiol would finish with a double-double as UMass would out-rebound the RedHawks 34-32.
When Miami’s offense needed a spark, Elmer always seemed to make an important shot. His six 3-pointers were crucial to erasing the deficit and reenergizing the fans inside Millett. Elmer shared the team-high in rebounds with seven, doing whatever it took to keep the team in the game.
The hustle the RedHawks played with in the second half goes far beyond anything depicted on the stat sheet: Miami players dove for every loose ball and fought for every rebound, as they tried to gain possession.
About midway through the half, the Miami swim team made an appearance in the student section behind the Minutemen’s hoop. Millett roared as the now-nationally iconic speedo clad mob tried everything in their power to affect the Minutemen at the line.
Suder would be the unsung hero of the night. His ability to pass the ball into advantageous positions allowed him to collect nine assists as a vital cog in the RedHawk offensive machine.
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“Offensively, he’s an incredible playmaker,” Miami head coach Travis Steele said. “He does whatever the game tells him to do. He creates shots, whether for himself or for his teammates, [and] he’s never flustered.”
Late in the fourth quarter, the game remained physical as ever. A very tense final two minutes would ensue, including a series of timeouts and fouls testing the composure of the players and fans alike. Fifteen free throws were attempted, and only three were missed by both teams in that span.
Ultimately, the RedHawks were able to squeak out a victory to remain undefeated, outscoring the Minutemen with a final score of 86-84. Miami has now defended home court successfully for the 27th game in a row. The RedHawks continue to blow past both Miami and MAC records for best start to a season in history, 21-0.
Miami remained undefeated on the same night the University of Nebraska suffered its first loss of the season. The RedHawks join the University of Arizona Wildcats as the only remaining unbeaten teams in Division I basketball in the 2026 season.
The No. 24 team in the nation looks to extend its win streak as Northern Illinois University comes to town for what will be its final game in Millett as MAC rivals. The game sold out prior to the return of students on campus for what is anticipated to be one of the largest crowds in Miami history.
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