After rising once again in the AP Top 25 poll, the No. 19 Miami University men’s basketball team (29-0, 16-0 in conference play) will play its last home game this season, welcoming the University of Toledo Rockets (16-13, 10-6 in conference play) to Millett Hall on March 3.
In their last game, the RedHawks nearly ended their perfect season when the Western Michigan University Broncos took a 61-53 lead into the final five minutes. If it weren’t for a six-point run from junior forward Almar Atlason and a last-second effort from freshman guard Trey Perry, Miami would have had its first loss of the 2025-26 season.
Miami scored its fewest points of the season, marking the first time all year the team has scored less than 70 points. The 69-67 score also marks the team’s sixth one-possession win in 2025-26, one week after another low-scoring performance, when the RedHawks defeated the Eastern Michigan University Eagles 74-64 on the road. Miami has averaged 90.9 points per game so far, the second-most in the country behind the University of Alabama (92.1).
Senior guard Peter Suder led the roster with 18 points despite fouling out with 10 minutes to go. Atlason and Perry brought in 16 and 14 points, respectively, and junior wing Eian Elmer scored 10 points for his 14th double-digit game this season.
Miami shot one of its worst games from the field, sinking 25 shots on 52 attempts (48.1%). The RedHawks made four 3-pointers, their lowest in any game this season, and shot 4-15 (26.7%) from range. Combined with the team’s performance at the free throw line – shooting 15-25 (60%) – Miami can thank its defense and maybe a stroke of luck for its win.
The Broncos out-rebounded Miami by 11, with senior guard Jayden Brewer leading Western Michigan in both points (19) and rebounds (11). Sophomore guard Ej Ryans and redshirt sophomore guard Justice Williams each contributed 14 points to keep the Broncos in the game.
Twice during the second half, Western Michigan led by eight points, but the RedHawks managed to close the gap both times. Senior forward Antwone Woolfolk largely helped keep Miami in the game, as well as Atlason, with two crucial 3-pointers. Woolfolk’s layup with 37 seconds remaining gave Miami a brief advantage before Williams tied the game at 67 apiece.
With one second on the clock, Perry drove for the rim, and his layup allowed the RedHawks to walk away barely up on the scoreboard. Miami’s undefeated season continues and extends the program record for wins in a season to 29.
Miami’s next game will be a rematch against Toledo, which is on a three-game winning streak and clinched its spot in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament last week.
After the RedHawks defeated them 87-73 on Jan. 9, the Rockets went 7-6 to take fourth place in the conference. Toledo’s last loss to Bowling Green State University on Feb. 14 set the stage for its current streak, starting with a 94-75 win over Eastern Michigan.
Three days later, Toledo downed Northern Illinois University 79-69 to secure its spot in Cleveland. With one more 79-67 win against the Ohio University Bobcats, Toledo brought its record to 16-13.
The Rockets are led by junior guard Sonny Wilson (17.3) and freshman guard Leroy Bilden Jr. (15.9), who both rank in the top 10 in points per game in the MAC. Senior forward Sean Craig and senior guard Kyler Vanderjagt also average in the double-figures with 11.8 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.
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Last year, Miami broke a 22-game losing streak against the Rockets at home. In the first matchup this year, the RedHawks won their second-straight game over Toledo thanks to a 21-point performance from Woolfolk and 20 points from redshirt sophomore wing Brant Byers. That game handed the Rockets their first loss in conference play.
Miami narrowly kept its winning streak against Western Michigan, and with two games left on the schedule, the RedHawks have a chance to make program history and accomplish their perfect season.
Tipoff for tonight’s game is at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast ESPN+.
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