Trending Now - Umass Deals Miami (OH) First Loss, Threatening Tournament Hopes
WHO:
UMass Minutemen (8th seed), Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (1st seed), head coach Travis Steele (Miami), Frank Martin (UMass), Daniel Hankins-Sanford (UMass), Jayden Ndigue (UMass), Leonardo Bettiol (UMass), Marcus Banks Jr. (UMass), Brant Byers (Miami), Almar Atlason (Miami), Luke Skaljac (Miami), Peter Suder (Miami).
WHAT:
Miami (Ohio) became the fifth men's Division I program this century to go undefeated during the regular season.
Miami (Ohio) is the first team since Gonzaga in the 2020-21 season to enter a conference tournament without a loss.
Miami (Ohio) had a 69-58 lead with 8:11 remaining before UMass rallied with a 13-2 run.
Miami (Ohio) can become the first MAC team to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament since 1999.
UMass defeated Miami (Ohio) 87-83 in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament.
Miami (Ohio) ended its perfect season with a record of 31-1.
UMass improved its record to 17-15.
The game featured 12 lead changes and 10 ties.
Jayden Ndigue scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Leonardo Bettiol scored 25 points, and Marcus Banks Jr. scored 18 points for UMass.
Miami (Ohio) was a 6.5-point favorite before the game.
Miami (Ohio) had 1,000-1 odds to win the NCAA tournament according to BetMGM.
WHERE:
The game took place at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
WHEN:
The game occurred on Thursday, March 12th, 2026.
Miami (Ohio) completed its regular season with a record of 31-0, including 18-0 in MAC play.
WHY:
Miami (Ohio) struggled defensively, allowing UMass to collect 17 offensive rebounds and score 23 second-chance points.
HOW:
Head coach Travis Steele stated, "Our guys have earned the right, in my opinion, to play in the NCAA Tournament."
Daniel Hankins-Sanford made a tiebreaking layup with 29 seconds remaining to secure the victory for UMass.
(UPDATED March 12, 2026 23:04 UTC)
In a historic achievement, Miami (Ohio) has become the fifth men's Division I program this century to finish the regular season undefeated, marking the first time since Gonzaga in the 2020-21 season that a team enters a conference tournament without a loss. Last Monday, Miami (Ohio) held a 69-58 lead with just over eight minutes left in the game, but UMass made a strong comeback with a 13-2 run. Head coach Travis Steele expressed his belief that his players have earned the right to compete in the NCAA Tournament, as Miami (Ohio) aims to become the first MAC team to secure an at-large bid since 1999.
--
(UPDATED March 12, 2026 19:21 UTC)
In a stunning upset, UMass defeated Miami (Ohio) 87-83 in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament, ending Miami's perfect season at 31-1. The game, held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, featured 12 lead changes and 10 ties, with standout performances from UMass players Leonardo Bettiol, who scored 25 points, and Jayden Ndigue, who added 16 points and 8 rebounds. Daniel Hankins-Sanford sealed the victory with a tiebreaking layup in the final seconds, while UMass improved its record to 17-15.