Miami (Ohio) kept its perfect season intact — barely.
The RedHawks (31-0) held off Ohio (15-16) 110-108 on March 7, 2026, in a high-octane NCAA finish that turned into a possession-by-possession squeeze late. The venue is listed as TBD, but the script was clear: Miami built a cushion early, Ohio counterpunched after the break, and the visitors made the final plays to preserve the undefeated mark.
How the game swung
Miami (Ohio) set the tone immediately with a 54-point first half, taking a 54-48 lead into intermission. That six-point edge ended up being the margin that mattered most, because Ohio won the second half 52-46 — a strong response that nearly flipped the result.
In a game with 218 combined points, the decisive stretch was less about a single run and more about surviving the constant pressure of each trip. Ohio’s ability to outscore Miami after halftime gave it repeated chances to steal the game, but Miami never fully surrendered control established in the opening 20 minutes.
Halftime story: Miami’s early separation
The RedHawks’ first half was the foundation of the win. Scoring 54 before the break put Ohio in immediate chase mode and forced the Bobcats to play from behind despite a productive offensive night of their own.
Ohio wasn’t overwhelmed — it scored 48 in the first half — but the inability to get the game level before halftime left little margin for error once the second-half possessions tightened.
Second-half push: Ohio makes it a finish
Ohio’s 52-point second half was the defining counter. The Bobcats turned the game into a sprint, trimming the deficit and repeatedly pressuring Miami’s lead. The math, however, stayed unforgiving: even winning the half by six only pulled Ohio to within two at the final horn.
Miami answered just enough, scoring 46 in the second half to keep the game from fully tilting. In a game decided by two, those incremental answers — a stop here, a response possession there — became the difference between an unbeaten season continuing and ending on the road.
What it means going forward
Miami (Ohio): 31-0, still perfect
Miami’s undefeated run survives another test, and doing it in a 110-point output underscores how comfortable the RedHawks are playing at a high tempo. The next step is sustaining that level when opponents inevitably try to turn shootouts into late-game execution battles — exactly the kind of environment Ohio forced in the second half.
Ohio: 15-16, momentum in the fight
Ohio entered on a three-game skid (LLLWW form overall across the last five) and came within a single possession of knocking off an unbeaten opponent. The Bobcats’ ability to win the second half against a 31-0 team is a tangible point to build on — especially after falling behind early and still finding a way to make the final minutes matter.
Final
Miami (Ohio) 110, Ohio 108
Halftime: Miami (Ohio) 54, Ohio 48