Miami (Ohio) Blazes to Historic 30-0 Start

A packed crowd of 10,640 fans erupted Tuesday night as Miami (Ohio) pulled off something only three other college basketball teams have done in the past 35 years: win their first 30 games.

The RedHawks edged Toledo 74-72 in a heart-stopping finish that kept their perfect season alive. They're now the only undefeated team left in Division I men's basketball.

Peter Suder led Miami with 19 points, while Antwone Woolfolk added 14 in the victory. The win wasn't easy as Toledo cut the lead to just one point four separate times and had a chance to take the lead with nine minutes remaining.

That's when Miami's Eian Elmer made the play of the night. He blocked Toledo's Austin Parks at the rim, then hit a three-pointer seconds later to push the lead back to four points.

The RedHawks jumped out to an early double-digit lead and never trailed the entire game. Still, Toledo kept fighting and had possession with 13 seconds left, trailing by just two points, before turning the ball over with less than a second remaining.

This marks the seventh time this season Miami has won by three points or fewer. That ties for the most close wins by any team trying to stay perfect since 1948-49.

Why This Inspires

Miami (Ohio) isn't a basketball powerhouse. They hadn't won a Mid-American Conference regular season title since 2004-05. They lost 22 straight games to Toledo from 2012 to 2024.

But this season, everything changed. The RedHawks have now beaten Toledo three times in a row and claimed their first MAC title in over 20 years. Their 31-game home winning streak matches Duke for the longest in the nation.

The victory came just days after Miami needed a buzzer-beater from freshman Trey Perry to escape Western Kentucky with a 69-67 win. Each game brings new drama, but this team keeps finding ways to win.

Miami joins incredibly rare company: 2013-14 Wichita State, 2014-15 Kentucky, and 2020-21 Gonzaga are the only other teams to start 30-0 in the past 35 years. Those were all powerhouse programs with national championship aspirations.

The RedHawks have one regular season game remaining before the conference tournament. Win that, and they'll complete a perfect regular season at 31-0, something that seemed impossible when the season started.

The sellout crowd at Millett Hall witnessed history and proved that magic can happen anywhere when a team believes.