No. 21 Miami of Ohio Defeats Western Michigan 69-67, Extends Undefeated Streak to 29 Games
No. 21 Miami of Ohio defeated the Western Michigan Broncos 69-67 on Friday night, extending their season-opening winning streak to 29 games. Trey Perry scored the game-winning layup with one second remaining in the contest.
This victory maintains Miami of Ohio's status as the sole undefeated team in Division I men’s basketball.
Game Summary
Miami of Ohio trailed Western Michigan 30-26 at halftime. Early in the second half, the RedHawks fell behind by eight points on two occasions. The game was tied at 49-all with 11:02 left in the second half.
Western Michigan subsequently built an eight-point lead, 57-49, with 8:40 remaining, and extended it to a nine-point advantage, 59-50, with 6:38 left.
Miami of Ohio then reduced the deficit. In the final minute of play, Eian Elmer's free throw gave Miami a 67-65 lead with 37 seconds remaining. Western Michigan's Justice Williams tied the game with a basket with 11 seconds left.
Trey Perry then scored the game-winning layup with one second remaining to secure the victory for Miami. Earlier in the final minute, Antwone Woolfolk had scored a layup that gave Miami a 66-65 lead with 14 seconds left.
Individual Performances
For Miami of Ohio:
- Peter Suder led the team with 18 points before fouling out with just over seven minutes remaining.
- Almar Atlason contributed 16 points.
- Trey Perry added 14 points, including the game-winning shot.
- Eian Elmer scored 10 points and made a crucial free throw late in the game.
For Western Michigan:
- Jayden Brewer led the Broncos with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
- Justice Williams and EJ Ryans each scored 14 points. Williams also made the tying basket in the final seconds.
Team Records and Historical Context
Miami of Ohio's record now stands at 29-0 overall and 16-0 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The team is ranked No. 21 nationally. This win marks the best start and longest winning streak in both program and MAC history, and also represents a school record for wins in a season. Miami of Ohio has recorded seven wins this season by a margin of fewer than six points.
Western Michigan's record is 10-19 overall and 4-12 in the Mid-American Conference.
Upcoming Schedule
Miami of Ohio is scheduled to host Toledo on Tuesday. Western Michigan will host Ball State on Tuesday.