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Miami (Ohio) survives Buffalo scare, 73-71, to keep perfect season intact

Miami (Ohio) stayed unbeaten with a 73-71 road win over Buffalo on Feb. 3, 2026, pushing its record to 22-0. Buffalo, now 14-8, nearly flipped the script despite coming in cold, dropping its fifth straight.

James O'Brien
James O'Brien
2 min read

Key Takeaways

  • 1Miami (Ohio) beat Buffalo 73–71, a 2-point margin.
  • 2Miami (Ohio) led 38–35 at the break and never gave the lead back.
  • 3The two teams combined for 144 points.
  • 4The CourtFrame model picked Miami (Ohio) at 84% confidence — the pick was correct.

Miami (Ohio) took Buffalo’s best punch and walked out with the only thing that mattered: a win. The RedHawks edged the Bulls 73-71 on Feb. 3, 2026, moving to 22-0 and extending a five-game winning streak in the process.

Buffalo fell to 14-8, and the result stung even more given the context — the Bulls entered the night on a five-game skid (LWLLL) and still had the unbeaten league heavyweight on the ropes late.

What decided it

In a two-point game with no margin for error, Miami (Ohio) simply executed well enough to avoid the upset. Buffalo made it a possession-by-possession fight, but the RedHawks’ ability to finish the game without letting the moment swallow them kept the perfect season alive.

With no overtime needed, the final minutes turned into a test of composure. Miami (Ohio) passed it; Buffalo came up just short.

Context that matters

This wasn’t just an unbeaten team beating a mid-pack opponent. Buffalo’s record (14-8) and form suggested a team searching for answers, yet it found a level that threatened to snap Miami (Ohio)’s 22-0 start. For the RedHawks, it’s another data point in the profile of a top-end team: winning even when it’s not clean.

For Buffalo, the narrow loss is the kind of result that can either deepen a slide or reset a season. The Bulls didn’t get the signature win, but pushing an undefeated opponent to a two-point finish is a reminder that their ceiling is higher than their recent stretch has shown.

What it means going forward

Miami (Ohio) remains perfect at 22-0, and games like this tend to harden contenders. The RedHawks didn’t need style points — they needed survival, and they got it.

Buffalo, now 14-8, still has to turn competitive performances into wins. After five straight losses, the urgency is obvious, but so is the opportunity: if the Bulls can replicate this level, the results should follow.

Game Data

Quarter-by-quarter score, Miami (Ohio) at Buffalo
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Miami (Ohio)03803573
Buffalo03503671
Date
February 3, 2026
Competition
NCAA
Status
Game Finished

CourtFrame model, before tip-off

Picked Miami (Ohio) at 84% confidencepick hit

Published before the game and scored against the result afterwards, hit or miss. How the model works

What the pick was built on

  • Away team is undefeated (22-0) versus home team’s 14-8 record
  • Recent form contrast: Buffalo LWLLL vs Miami (Ohio) WWWWW
  • No recent H2H data to suggest matchup-specific advantage; outcome driven by overall record and form

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo?

Miami (Ohio) won 73–71, played on February 3, 2026.

Who won Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo?

Miami (Ohio), by 2 points in the NCAA.

What does CourtFrame's model predict for Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo?

The model favoured Miami (Ohio) with 84% confidence, and that pick was correct. Picks are published before tip-off and scored against the result.

Data Official basketball data feed (ref. 478068)

How this was written Drafted by CourtFrame's generative model from the official statistical feed for this game, then published under editorial review. Editorial policy