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The last undefeated team in NCAA Division I men’s basketball has fallen.
Miami (Ohio) saw its perfect season end Thursday with an 87-83 loss to UMass in the RedHawks’ Mid-American Conference tournament opener, a loss that also ended their hopes of securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Massachusetts guard Marcus Banks (24) and guard K’jei Parker (5) celebrate after Massachusetts defeated Miami in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament in Cleveland on March 12, 2026. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)
“We always rewatch the movie. We break it down like we always do… [We’ll be] tomorrow and back on Saturday trying to find ways to get better,” head coach Travis Steele said via the team website.
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“There’s still a lot of season left. Can we keep improving? I think that’s what great teams do.”
Miami had a 69-58 lead with 8:11 left before UMass rallied with a 13-2 run. The loss came after Miami (Ohio) clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament after going 31-0 during the regular season.
Miami RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) and guard Luke Skaljac (3) leave the court as UMass Minutemen forward Leonardo Bettiol (3) celebrates after the final buzzer of the second half of a first-round game during the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on March 12, 2026. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
MIAMI REDHAWKS COMPLETE UNDEfeatED REGULAR SEASON WITH DRAMATIC OVERTIME WIN OVER OHIO
The RedHawks became just the fifth NCAA Division I program this century to go undefeated in the regular season and the first since Gonzaga in 2020.
With no automatic bid on the table, Miami (Ohio) will have to wait until the brackets are revealed Sunday night. The RedHawks can become the first MAC team to earn an at-large bid since 1999.
Miami RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) and guard Luke Skaljac (3) leave the court as UMass Minutemen forward Leonardo Bettiol (3) celebrates after the final buzzer during a first-round game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on March 12, 2026. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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“Our guys have earned the right, in my opinion, to play in the NCAA tournament,” Steele added.
