2025–26 Miami RedHawks men's basketball team

American college basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 Miami RedHawks men's basketball team represented Miami University during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The RedHawks, led by fourth-year head coach Travis Steele, played their home games at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio as members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Miami won every game in the regular season to become the first MAC team to win all of its conference games in the regular season. The team concluded the season with active school record streaks for consecutive home wins (31) and consecutive road wins (15). During the season, it established a school record for consecutive weeks ranked (7) and set MAC record for consecutive MAC game wins (18 going into the tournament). Having only tournament game losses this season and ending the previous season with a tournament loss, it also concluded the season with an active 33-game consecutive regular season games win streak and a 20-game consecutive MAC regular season game win streak. The team also set a record for most wins by three points or fewer by an undefeated team (8). The team's 32 wins established a single-season school record by surpassing the prior season's total of 25. The team tied the 32-win 2018–19 Buffalo Bulls, for the conference single-season win record.

Record32–2 (18–0 MAC)
Headcoach
Associate headcoachJonathan Holmes (4th season)
Quick facts Miami RedHawks men's basketball, MAC regular season champions ...
2025–26 Miami RedHawks men's basketball
NCAA tournament, First round
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record32–2 (18–0 MAC)
Head coach
Associate head coachJonathan Holmes (4th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Khristian Smith (4th season)
  • Ben Botts (1st season)
  • Carl Richburg (2nd season)
  • Elijah Pennington (2nd season)
Home arenaMillett Hall
Seasons
2026–27 
Close
More information Conf., Overall ...
2025–26 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Miami (OH)180 1.000322  .941
Akron171 .944296  .829
Kent State144 .7782410  .706
Toledo117 .6111915  .559
Bowling Green99 .5001814  .563
Ohio99 .5001517  .469
Buffalo711 .3891715  .531
UMass711 .3891716  .515
Ball State711 .3891219  .387
Central Michigan612 .3331021  .323
Western Michigan414 .2221021  .323
Northern Illinois414 .222921  .300
Eastern Michigan414 .2221021  .323
2026 MAC tournament winner
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Previous season

The RedHawks finished the 2024–25 season 23–8, 14–4 in MAC play to finish in second place.[1] They defeated Eastern Michigan and Kent State before losing to Akron in the championship round of the MAC tournament, finishing 259.[2] The team tied the school record with 23 regular season wins and set a record with 15 consecutive single-season home wins.[3][4] The 25 overall wins established a school record.[5] They were the first team to reach the Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament championship game since the 2006–07 Miami RedHawks men's basketball team won the 2007 MAC men's basketball tournament.[6]

Achievements

On December 16, 2025, Miami defeated Wright State 8376 for its 11th consecutive victory to set a school record for best start.[7][8] On December 18, starting point guard Evan Ipsaro was named to the 2025-26 Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List,[9] but he tore his ACL in the December 20 victory against Ball State and was lost for the season.[10][11]

On January 6, Miami defeated Western Michigan 8776 to notch a school record 24th consecutive home win.[12][13] The team's January 13 victory over Central Michigan brought them to an 180 record becoming the first unranked team to reach that status since the 1978–79 season.[14] On January 17, 2026 defeated Buffalo in overtime to secure the Miami Redhawks 19th consecutive win to start the season, which tied the 1975–76 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team for the best start in MAC history.[15][16] The game was close throughout and featured 27 lead changes and 8 ties.[17] Following the victory, Miami entered the 2025–26 basketball rankings in the AP Poll for the first time since the 1998–99 Miami RedHawks men's basketball team appeared in the 1998–99 rankings.[18][19][20] No MAC team had been ranked since the 2018–19 Buffalo Bulls finished the season ranked.[21] On January 20, the team achieved a 200 start with an overtime victory over Kent State on the road, breaking the MAC record for consecutive wins to start a season (20) and the school record for consecutive road wins (9). The team also tied the single-season record for consecutive road wins (8) and started the MAC season 80 for the first time since the 1994–95 Miami Redskins men's basketball team.[22][23] On January 27, they played their first home game at Millett Hall as a ranked team against UMass in which they won, extending the MAC record for consecutive wins to start a season to 21. The game also was the tenth highest attended game at Millett Hall.[24] The victory also tied them with the 2001–02 Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team for the longest in-season winning streak in MAC history.[25] On January 31, they set the longest winning in-season streak in MAC history by defeating Northern Illinois 85–61. The game also set the attendance record at Millet Hall as they had 10,640 in person. The victory also pulled them neck-and-neck with Akron for the nation's longest active Division I home winning streak at 28,[26][27][28] following the January 29 North Dakota late comeback against St. Thomas (Minnesota), the prior home streak record holder.[29]

A February 3 victory over Buffalo broke the in-season school record for consecutive road wins (9).[21][30] On February 9, Arizona lost to Kansas, leaving Miami as the only unbeaten team in NCAA men's Division I basketball.[31] After Duke matched Akron and Miami with 28 consecutive home wins,[32] a victory on February 13 against Battle of the Bricks rival Ohio, to reach 29 consecutive home wins, 25–0 and a 120 conference start, gave Miami its best conference start since the 1957–58 Miami Redskins.[33][34] Since the Miami Redhawks swim team has been showing up in the winter to support the basketball team in just their Speedo trunks, head coach Travis Steele committed on College GameDay to Rece Davis to be hoisted while in a swimming motion wearing only a Speedo on Selection Sunday if the team won its final 6 games and the 2026 MAC men's basketball tournament.[35] Miami reached both 130 in conference play and achieved more than 25 wins (260) for the first time in school history with an 8677 win on February 17 against UMass.[36][37][38] On February 20, guard Luke Skaljac scored a career-high 24 points in a home victory against Bowling Green and Miami pushed their winning streak to 270 while improving to 140 in conference play for the first time in program history. This win also extended their home winning streak to 30, which tied Duke for the longest active streak in the nation, and matched their single-season record of 15 straight home wins.[39] On February 23, the team was ranked 21 in the AP Poll setting a school record for it sixth consecutive week of rankings as well achieving the highest ranking since the 1977–78 Miami Redskins and highest non-final poll ranking since the 1970–71 Miami Redskins.[40][41] The team became the fifth team of the 21st century to enter March undefeated (following the 2003–04 Saint Joseph's Hawks, 2013–14 Wichita State Shockers, 2014–15 Kentucky Wildcats and 2020–21 Gonzaga Bulldogs).[42][43] The team's March 2nd ascension to the number 19 ranking was the school's highest ranking since March 13, 1978.[44]

On March 3, the team defeated Toledo 7472, earning their 30 win, 16th home win and 17th conference win of the season and 31st consecutive home win while sweeping Toledo for the first time since the 1996–97 Miami Redskins. The win clinched 2025–26 MAC regular season championship for Miami who had lost 22 consecutive games to Toledo before the current 3-game series streak.[45] The win also gave Miami the conference record for consecutive MAC conference games wins at 17, surpassing the 1956–57 Miami Redskins.[46][a][b] The team achieved this with only one Quad 2 win and no Quad 1 wins.[50] This was Miami's first conference regular season championship since the 2004–05 Miami RedHawks, but the slim margin of victory tied Miami for the most (7) wins of three points or less by an undefeated team since 1948-49.[51] The team ended the season with an active 31-game home win streak.[52] Conference rival Akron, also concluded its season with an active 31 consecutive home game wins streak.[53] Duke ended its season with 32 consecutive home game wins.[54]

On March 6, Miami defeated Battle of the Bricks rival Ohio 110108 in overtime to finish the regular season 310, making them the third NCAA men's Division I program to do so (2013–14 Wichita State & 2014–15 Kentucky).[55] The win was the 1500th in school history and the first at the Convocation Center since January 9, 2011.[56] The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN2 after having been rescheduled on February 23.[57][58] They were the 25th NCAA Division I program to finish the regular season undefeated since 1948 but just the fifth since the 1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team.[59] Although no team has previously achieved 29 or more wins and not been invited to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament,[60] it was speculated that the team would need to win the 2026 MAC men's basketball tournament to get invited.[61] At 180 in conference, Miami held on to this record setting streak.[56] Other MAC conference teams to go undefeated in conference play include 100 1949–50 Cincinnati Bearcats and 120 1957–58 Miami Redskins.[citation needed]

The 20th ranked RedHawks were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament to UMass, marking their first loss of the season.[62][63] As a result they were no longer ranked and only receiveing votes in both polls.[64] This ended their MAC conference game streak at 18, but the 2024–25 team had won its final 2 MAC regular season games,[65] leaving the team with a 20-game MAC regular season game streak.

Despite the MAC tourney loss, they earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.[66] Miami's bid was the MAC conference's first at large bid since the Wally Szczerbiak-led 1998–99 Miami RedHawks team and the school's first invitation since the 2006–07 Miami RedHawks.[64] They advanced to the round of 64 with a First Four win (the team's 32nd of the season) over SMU[67] before falling in the first round to 23rd-ranked Tennessee.[68] 32 wins equalled the Buffalo Bulls who had set the MAC conference single-season record in 2019.[69] The First Four win was the school's first NCAA tournament win since the 1998–99 team's success at the 1999 NCAA tournament.[70]

Offseason

Departures

More information Name, Number ...
Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Kam Craft4G/F6'6"205SophomoreChicago, IllinoisTransferred to Georgia Tech
Mekhi Cooper11G6'1"165SophomoreBolingbrook, IllinoisTransferred to Lindenwood
Dan Luers25G6'5"220Graduate studentLebanon, OhioGraduated, Graduate Assistant at Miami
Reece Potter35C7'1"215SophomoreLexington, KentuckyTransferred to Kentucky
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Incoming transfers

More information Name, Number ...
Incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Almar Atlason11F6'8"235JuniorReykjavík, IcelandBradley
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Recruiting class

More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Tyler Robbins
PF
Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania Upper St. Clair High School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Aug 6, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Justin Kirby
SG
Fishers, Indiana Fishers High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Nov 13, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Kyle Waltz
SF
Geneva, Ohio SPIRE Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jul 3, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Trey Perry
PG
Middletown, Ohio Lakota East High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jun 25, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Leshawn Stowers
SG
Peoria, Illinois Peoria High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sep 25, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals.
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2025–26 Miami RedHawks men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G/F 0 Eian Elmer 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg) JrRobert A. Taft Information Technology High School Cincinnati, Ohio
G 1 Trey Perry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrLakota East High School Liberty Township, Ohio
G 2 Evan Ipsaro Injured 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg) JrCovington Catholic High School Crestview Hills, Kentucky
G 3 Luke Skaljac 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoBrecksville–Broadview Heights High School Brecksville, Ohio
G 4 Brady Ganley 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrBrecksville–Broadview Heights High School Brecksville, Ohio
G 5 Peter Suder 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)215 lb (98 kg) SrBellarmine Carmel, Indiana
G 6 Jack Sauer 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrLoveland High School Loveland, Ohio
F 7 Ethan Wright 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)180 lb (82 kg) JrSpring Valley Academy Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
G 8 Eli Yofan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)205 lb (93 kg) SrFox Chapel Area High School Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
F 11 Almar Atlason 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)235 lb (107 kg) JrBradley Reykjavík, Iceland
G 12 Justin Kirby 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrFishers High School Fishers, Indiana
F 13 Antwone Woolfolk 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)245 lb (111 kg) SrRutgers Cleveland, Ohio
F 20 Tyler Robbins 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)245 lb (111 kg) FrUpper St. Clair High School Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
G 21 Leshawn Stowers 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrPeoria Central High School Peoria, Illinois
G/F 22 Brant Byers 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS SoPerkiomen School Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
F 24 Jackson Kotecki 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrSt. Ignatius College Prep Chicago, Illinois
F 25 Kyle Waltz 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg) FrYork Community High School Elmhurst, Illinois
G 33 Blake Anderson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) JrEvansville Memorial High School Evansville, Indiana
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 7, 2025

Close

Schedule and results

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
November 3, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Old Dominion
MAC-SBC Challenge
W 87–72  1–0
 18  Byers  8  Elmer  4  Skaljac  Millett Hall (2,131)
Oxford, OH
November 7, 2025*
7:30 p.m., ESPN+
Trinity Christian (IL) W 129–49  2–0
 23  Waltz  10  Robbins  6  Atlason  Millett Hall (2,087)
Oxford, OH
November 15, 2025*
2:00 p.m., MW Network
at Air Force W 76–61  3–0
 18  Byers  13  Woolfolk  7  Ipsaro  Clune Arena (1,117)
Air Force Academy, CO
November 20, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Mercyhurst
Marshall MTE
W 76–71  4–0
 16  Atlason  7  Woolfolk  4  Tied  Millett Hall (1,633)
Oxford, OH
November 23, 2025*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
Arkansas–Pine Bluff
Marshall MTE
W 111–84  5–0
 20  Ipsaro  8  Elmer  6  Skaljac  Millett Hall (1,176)
Oxford, OH
November 26, 2025*
2:00 p.m., SIACN
vs. UNC Greensboro
Riley Decker Showcase
W 82–71  6–0
 20  Suder  7  Suder  4  Tied  John Hurst Adams Gymnasium (46)
Jacksonville, FL
December 2, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Indiana East W 109–65  7–0
 15  Waltz  7  Tied  5  Tied  Millett Hall (1,246)
Oxford, OH
December 6, 2025*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
Maine W 93–61  8–0
 24  Ipsaro  7  Skaljac  7  Suder  Millett Hall (1,349)
Oxford, OH
December 10, 2025*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
at UNC Asheville W 90–87 OT 9–0
 27  Ipsaro  6  Elmer  9  Skaljac  Kimmel Arena (903)
Asheville, NC
December 13, 2025*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Eastern Kentucky W 79–69  10–0
 19  Atlason  5  Tied  5  Tied  Baptist Health Arena (600)
Richmond, KY
December 16, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Wright State W 83–76  11–0
 27  Byers  6  Tied  3  Tied  Nutter Center (4,892)
Fairborn, OH
December 20, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Ball State W 86–77  12–0
(1–0)
 26  Atlason  7  Elmer  5  Suder  Worthen Arena (3,503)
Muncie, IN
December 22, 2025*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
Milligan W 135–81  13–0
 24  Perry  8  Robbins  9  Perry  Millett Hall (1,435)
Oxford, OH
December 30, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Bowling Green W 93–83  14–0
(2–0)
 17  Tied  8  Suder  5  Tied  Stroh Center (3,844)
Bowling Green, OH
January 3, 2026
3:30 p.m., ESPN+
Akron W 76–73  15–0
(3–0)
 26  Byers  8  Elmer  9  Suder  Millett Hall (4,111)
Oxford, OH
January 6, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Western Michigan W 87–76  16–0
(4–0)
 21  Atlason  8  Kirby  5  Suder  Millett Hall (1,407)
Oxford, OH
January 9, 2026
6:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Toledo W 87–73  17–0
(5–0)
 21  Woolfolk  7  Byers  6  Suder  Savage Arena (5,143)
Toledo, OH
January 13, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Central Michigan W 100–61  18–0
(6–0)
 24  Byers  7  Tied  6  Skaljac  Millett Hall (2,021)
Oxford, OH
January 17, 2026
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
Buffalo W 105–102 OT 19–0
(7–0)
 37  Suder  11  Woolfolk  10  Skaljac  Millett Hall (5,088)
Oxford, OH
January 20, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 25 at Kent State W 107–101 OT 20–0
(8–0)
 27  Suder  10  Suder  8  Tied  MAC Center (6,327)
Kent, OH
January 27, 2026
9:00 p.m., ESPNU
No. 24 UMass W 86–84  21–0
(9–0)
 30  Elmer  7  Tied  9  Suder  Millett Hall (9,223)
Oxford, OH
January 31, 2026
3:30 p.m., ESPN+
No. 24 Northern Illinois W 85–61  22–0
(10–0)
 21  Byers  12  Woolfolk  3  Woolfolk  Millett Hall (10,640)
Oxford, OH
February 3, 2026
6:30 p.m., ESPN+
No. 23 at Buffalo W 73–71  23–0
(11–0)
 19  Skaljac  5  Tied  8  Suder  Alumni Arena (3,507)
Amherst, NY
February 7, 2026*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 23 at Marshall
MAC-SBC Challenge
W 90–74  24–0
 18  Elmer  9  Elmer  7  Skaljac  Cam Henderson Center (5,475)
Huntington, WV
February 13, 2026
9:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 23 Ohio W 90–74  25–0
(12–0)
 21  Byers  6  Tied  8  Skaljac  Millett Hall (10,640)
Oxford, OH
February 17, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 22 at UMass W 86–77  26–0
(13–0)
 23  Suder  5  Tied  7  Skaljac  Mullins Center (7,524)
Amherst, MA
February 20, 2026
8:30 p.m., CBSSN
No. 22 Bowling Green W 91–77  27–0
(14–0)
 24  Skaljac  8  Tied  5  Skaljac  Millett Hall (10,127)
Oxford, OH
February 24, 2026
6:30 p.m., ESPN+
No. 21 at Eastern Michigan W 74–64  28–0
(15–0)
 16  Byers  10  Suder  4  Skaljac  George Gervin GameAbove Center (3,136)
Ypsilanti, MI
February 27, 2026
6:00 p.m., CBSSN
No. 21 at Western Michigan W 69–67  29–0
(16–0)
 18  Suder  8  Kirby  3  Perry  University Arena (3,193)
Kalamazoo, MI
March 3, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 19 Toledo W 74–72  30–0
(17–0)
 19  Suder  6  Woolfolk  4  Suder  Millett Hall (10,640)
Oxford, OH
March 6, 2026
9:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 19 at Ohio W 110–108 OT 31–0
(18–0)
 32  Elmer  12  Elmer  4  Tied  Convocation Center (10,740)
Athens, OH
MAC tournament
March 12, 2026
11:00 a.m., ESPN+
(1) No. 20 vs. (8) UMass
Quarterfinal
L 83–87  31–1
 17  Byers  5  Tied  7  Tied  Rocket Arena 
Cleveland, OH
NCAA tournament
March 18, 2026*
9:15 p.m., truTV
(11 MW) vs. (11 MW) SMU
First Four
W 89–79  32–1
 23  Elmer  7  Suder  6  Suder  UD Arena (12,558)
Dayton, OH
March 20, 2026*
4:25 p.m., TBS
(11 MW) vs. (6 MW) No. 23 Tennessee
First round
L 56–78  32–2
 27  Suder  6  Byers  3  Skaljac  Xfinity Mobile Arena (19,686)
Philadelphia, PA
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
MW=Midwest.
All times are in Eastern Time Zone.
Close

Sources:[71][72]

Honors

In seasons

During the season the following players were recognized for superior performance as MAC Player of the Week:

Week 7 (December 22, 2025) Brant Byers[73]
Week 16 (February 23, 2026) Luke Skaljac (co with Tavari Johnson, Akron)[74]
Week 18 (March 9, 2026) Eian Elmer[75]

Post season

Following the season the following MAC awards were conferred upon Miami Redhawks individuals:[76][77]

Coach of the Year: Travis Steele
Player of the Year: Peter Suder
All-MAC First Team: Peter Suder
All-MAC Second Team: Brant Byers and Eian Elmer
All-MAC Third Team: Luke Skaljac
All-MAC Honorable mention: Antwone Woolfolk

Rankings

More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP [78]RVRVRVRV*RVRV2524232322211920RVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRV25т242423252020RVRV
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*AP did not release a week 8 poll.

Footnotes

  1. This published record is in discord with Sports Reference, which shows the 56-57 team won its first 7 conference games and the 55-56 team won its last two conference games.[47][48]
  2. The 2012–13 & 2024–25 Akron Zips men's basketball teams are both known to have started the MAC conference schedule with 130 records.[49]

References

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