Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Extend Winning Streak
In a thrilling showdown on Tuesday evening, the No. 23 ranked Miami (Ohio) RedHawks secured a narrow 73-71 win against Buffalo, marking their 23rd consecutive triumph—the longest winning streak in Mid-American Conference (MAC) history. Luke Skaljac stood out as he achieved a personal best by scoring 19 points. His teammates contributed significantly, with Brant Byers adding 11 points and Peter Suder rounding out the effort with 10 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.
Undefeated Record and Division I Standing
This victory keeps Miami undefeated with a record of 23-0 overall and 11-0 in MAC play. They are now one of only two teams in Division I college basketball without a loss, alongside Arizona, who holds a 22-0 record.
Buffalo Bulls Struggle Continues
The Buffalo Bulls, who have had a tough stretch, featured Angelo Brizzi as their top scorer with 22 points, while Daniel Freitag contributed 18 points. Despite starting their season strong with a 13-2 record—one of the best in the program’s Division I history—the Bulls have suffered seven losses in their last eight games, dragging their overall record to 14-9 and 4-7 in the conference.
Game Highlights
As the game drew to a close, a crucial 3-pointer from Buffalo’s Noah Batchelor brought the score to a tight 73-71 with just 11 seconds left on the clock. Skaljac had an opportunity to secure the game but missed two free throws, including a pivotal one-and-one after Batchelor’s shot. With the clock winding down, Ryan Sabol’s last-second three-point attempt hit the front of the rim, sealing the narrow victory for Miami.
This match was a tightly contested affair, characterized by frequent lead changes and a competitive spirit. At halftime, Miami led narrowly at 38-35 after a back-and-forth first half that featured nine lead swaps and four ties. Earlier this season, the two teams also faced off in another close contest, where Miami edged out Buffalo in a high-scoring overtime game, winning 105-102 on January 17.
Historic Ranking and Upcoming Challenges
With this victory, Miami’s current ranking is its highest since climbing to No. 22 in November 1998, and they are the first team from the MAC to be ranked since Buffalo concluded the 2018-19 season at No. 15.
As for their next challenges, Miami (Ohio) will face Marshall in the upcoming MAC-Sun Belt Challenge on Saturday, while Buffalo will travel to South Alabama the same day.
