Miami RedHawks Complete Perfect 31-0 Season in Overtime Win

The Miami RedHawks just wrapped up something incredibly rare in college basketball: a perfect regular season.

Miami University completed a 31-0 regular season Friday night with a nail-biting 110-108 overtime win against rival Ohio. The victory makes them just the fifth NCAA Division I program this century to go undefeated in regular season play.

Eian Elmer delivered the performance of his life with a career-high 32 points to lead the RedHawks. Star guard Peter Suder added 13 points, including five crucial points in overtime that sealed the historic win.

The game came down to the final seconds. Ohio's Jackson Paveletzke scored a career-high 37 points and had one last shot to win it, but his would-be buzzer-beater bounced off the rim.

Now comes the tricky part. Despite their perfect record, Miami's spot in the NCAA tournament isn't guaranteed because they play in the Mid-American Conference, a smaller league that typically gets just one bid.

"An undefeated season, it has to matter, right?" athletic director David Sayler told USA Today. "Otherwise, why wouldn't we just play three days in the conference tournament and forget the regular season if you're not going to take an undefeated team?"

Why This Inspires

This story captures what makes March basketball magical. A mid-major program achieved something only four other teams have done in 25 years, proving that dedication and teamwork can produce extraordinary results regardless of conference status.

The RedHawks earned the No. 1 seed in their conference tournament and face UMass in the quarterfinals Thursday. A win guarantees them a spot in the big dance. A loss means waiting nervously to see if the tournament selection committee rewards their historic achievement with an at-large bid.

Either way, these players already accomplished something they'll remember forever.