‘We’re Built For This Moment’ Miami Concludes First Perfect Season in MAC History with 110-108 OT Thriller Over Ohio

ATHENS, Ohio — The 2025-26 Miami RedHawks sure know how to make history with a flair.

In a game for the ages at the Convocation Center at Ohio University, the RedHawks finished off the first perfect regular season in the 80-year history of the Mid-American Conference. Eian Elmer scored 32 and grabbed 12 rebounds and Trey Perry added 21 as No. 19 Miami captured a wild 110-108 overtime win over host Ohio Friday night in Athens, Ohio.

Brant Byers chipped in with 15 and Peter Suder added 13 as Miami (31-0, 18-0) joined St. Joseph’s (2003-04), Wichita State (2013-14), Kentucky (2014-15) and Gonzaga (2020-21) as the only teams this century to head into their conference tournament with a perfect record.

As Miami coach Travis Steele pointed out, there should be no debate now that the RedHawks belong in the field of 68 on Selection Sunday, regardless of what happens in the MAC tournament next week in Cleveland.

“Dude, we’re 31-0. That’s it,” Steele said.

Jackson Paveletzke had a career-high 37 and Javan Simmons added 30 for Ohio (15-16, 9-9), which lost to Miami at home for the first time since a 92-88 triple-overtime setback on Jan. 9, 2011, snapping a string of 14 straight wins over their MAC archrival in Athens.

Ajay Sheldon’s 30-foot three with 6:18 left tied the game, 88-88. Miami would take a 93-88 lead before Ohio rallied. Simmons found Aidan Hadaway on a cut to the basket to make it 95-93 Miami with three minutes left. Paveletzke drained a rainbow three from five feet beyond the arc to make it 97-96 Miami with 2:33 left.

Simmons’ dunk with 40.8 seconds remaining finally brought Ohio even, 100-100. Peter Suder drove to the basket and had his shot blocked. The loose ball went out of bounds with 23.9 seconds left, and after video review, possession was awarded to Miami with 12 seconds left on the shot clock. Luke Skaljac’s three was short from the right baseline and Ohio grabbed the loose ball.

Paveletske’s floater in the lane just fell off the rim as regulation expired and the game went to overtime at 100-100. Paveletske’s layup 45 seconds into overtime gave Ohio its first lead since midway through the first half before Peter Suder’s layup and free throw on a three-point play put Miami back on top.

After Miami took a 107-104 lead, Paveletske hit a spinning layup and was fouled with 1:12 remaining. He missed the free throw and Miami clung to a one-point lead. Simmons put Ohio up, 108-107, with 25.9 seconds left on a layup before Suder answered with two free throws 12.6 to put Miami up for good, 109-108. Paveletzke missed a layup with five seconds remaining and Justin Kirby grabbed the rebound to seal the game with 4.7 seconds left. Kirby hit one of two free throws before Paveletzke’s three was off the mark as time expired.

“We’re built for this moment,” Suder told me in the on-court celebration moments after the game with family and friends.

Miami claimed a 61-50 lead with just under 17 minutes remaining when Paveletzke led an Ohio charge, aided by Miami’s second technical of the game. Brant Byers was called for a technical and Paveletzke converted both free throws to draw Ohio within 65-62. Paveletzke then drained a mid-range jumper in the paint to cap a 14-4 run and cut the Miami lead to 65-64 with 15 minutes remaining.

But Miami answered with a Perry jumper in the paint and began a 9-1 RedHawks spurt. Miami built its lead back to 10, 77-67, when Miami was called for its third technical of the game, as Antwone Woolfolk and Ohio’s Javan Simmons exchanged shoves. After Ohio drained three of four free throws, Ajay Sheldon knocked down a three to complete the six-point possession and cut Miami’s lead back to four.

Moments later, Eian Elmer was called for a flagrant foul and Ohio hit three of four free throws to cap a nine-point surge in 50 seconds.