UMass hands Miami (Ohio) first loss, crushing dream season and jeopardizing tournament bid

The last undefeated squad successful NCAA Division I men’s hoops has fallen.

Miami (Ohio) saw its cleanable play extremity Thursday with an 87–83 nonaccomplishment to UMass successful the RedHawks’ Mid-American Conference tourney opener, a decision that besides dashed its hopes of securing an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Massachusetts defender Marcus Banks (24) and defender K'jei Parker (5) observe aft Massachusetts defeated Miami successful the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tourney successful Cleveland March 12, 2026. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)

"We ever spell backmost to ticker the film. We'll interruption it down conscionable similar we ever do. … [We'll be] disconnected time and backmost astatine it Saturday trying to fig retired ways to get better," caput manager Travis Steele said via the team’s website.

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"There's inactive a batch of play left. Can we proceed to improve? I deliberation that's what the large teams do."

Miami had a 69-58 pb with 8:11 remaining earlier UMass rallied with a 13-2 run. The nonaccomplishment came aft Miami (Ohio) secured the No. 1 effect successful the league tourney aft going 31-0 during the regular season. 

Miami RedHawks defender Peter Suder (5) and defender Luke Skaljac (3) permission the level arsenic UMass Minutemen guardant Leonardo Bettiol (3) celebrates aft the last buzzer of the 2nd fractional of a first-round crippled during the Mid-American Conference Tournament astatine Rocket Arena successful Cleveland March 12, 2026. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

MIAMI REDHAWKS COMPLETE UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON WITH DRAMATIC OVERTIME VICTORY OVER OHIO

The RedHawks became conscionable the 5th NCAA Division I programme this period to spell undefeated successful the regular play and the archetypal since Gonzaga successful 2020.

With an automatic bid nary longer connected the table, Miami (Ohio) volition person to hold until the brackets are unveiled Sunday night. The RedHawks tin go the archetypal MAC squad to gain an at-large bid since 1999. 

Miami RedHawks defender Peter Suder (5) and defender Luke Skaljac (3) permission the level arsenic UMass Minutemen guardant Leonardo Bettiol (3) celebrates aft the last buzzer during a first-round crippled of the Mid-American Conference Tournament astatine Rocket Arena successful Cleveland March 12, 2026.  (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

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"Our guys person earned the right, successful my opinion, to play successful the NCAA Tournament," Steele added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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