Miami (Ohio) walked into February 18 still undefeated. It walked out the same way.
The RedHawks improved to 26-0 with an 86-77 road win over UMass (15-12), leaning on a steady second half to separate in a game that was tight through the middle and decided by execution late.
How it happened
Miami (Ohio) carried a 41-36 edge into the break, a five-point cushion that mattered because it forced UMass to chase the game from there. The RedHawks followed with a 45-41 second-half scoring advantage, repeatedly answering each Minutemen push and keeping the margin from collapsing.
UMass had enough offense to stay within striking distance, but the math never flipped. Miami (Ohio) won both halves, and that consistency—rather than one overwhelming burst—was the difference.
Turning point: Miami (Ohio) wins the response game
With UMass trying to stabilize after a recent run of losses (LLLWW entering the night), the game set up as a pressure test: could the Minutemen land a sustained run and force the unbeaten team into late-game discomfort?
Miami (Ohio) didn’t allow it. Every time UMass crept closer, the RedHawks kept scoring pace, preserving their halftime advantage and extending it just enough in the final stretch to close.
What it means going forward
Miami (Ohio): 26-0 and still in control
This was the profile of a mature road win: take the lead before halftime, win the second half, and avoid the kind of empty possessions that turn a solid night into a scramble. Miami (Ohio) remains perfect, and games like this—where the opponent is competitive but the result never fully swings—are how unbeaten seasons survive February.
UMass: competitive, but the margin for error stays thin
At 15-12, UMass showed it could score with an elite opponent for long stretches, putting up 77 and winning the second half on the scoreboard only in the sense that it stayed close (41 points after halftime). But dropping both halves underscores the current issue: the Minutemen can’t afford slow starts or small lapses against high-level teams, especially coming off a volatile stretch of form.
Final
Miami (Ohio) 86, UMass 77.