Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Punch NCAA Ticket with Dominant First Four Victory Over SMU; Prairie View A&M Edges Lehigh
DAYTON, Ohio — In a thrilling kickoff to the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, Miami (Ohio) delivered a resounding statement in the First Four, defeating SMU 89-79 to advance to face No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Round of 64.[1][2] Meanwhile, Prairie View A&M, led by standout Dontae Horne, sank a game-winning shot to edge Lehigh and secure their spot in the main bracket.[1]
RedHawks Silence Doubters with Shooting Clinic
The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks entered the night as the darlings of college basketball, boasting a perfect 31-0 regular season in the Mid-American Conference (MAC)—only the eighth unbeaten regular season in the past 50 years.[6][7][8] Their fairy tale hit a snag with a quarterfinal upset loss to UMass in the MAC Tournament, thrusting their NCAA hopes into doubt due to a schedule ranked 339th nationally and zero Quadrant 1 wins.[6][7]
Selection Sunday brought relief and a No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region, but also a daunting First Four matchup against fellow No. 11 SMU (20-13) at UD Arena in Dayton—mere miles from their Oxford campus.[1][6][7] The Mustangs, coached by a revitalized staff, boasted wins over North Carolina and competitive losses to Duke, Virginia, and Louisville, making them a sneaky threat.[1]
Miami coach Travis Steele’s squad left no room for debate. The RedHawks erupted for 16-of-41 three-pointers (39%) and 13-of-23 twos, sharing the ball with 20 assists on 29 field goals and just four turnovers.[2] Despite SMU dominating the paint by 26 points, Miami’s perimeter barrage built a 43-34 halftime lead after jumping ahead by 10 with 6:29 left in the first half.[2]
SMU rallied early in the second, grabbing a 49-48 edge, but Miami steadied, pulling away for the 10-point win.[2] MAC Player of the Year Peter Suder (60% from two, nearly 40% from three) and guards Luke Skaljac and wings Eian Elmer (43% from deep) and Brant Byers (39%) orchestrated a five-out offense that tormented SMU’s defense.[8] Forward Eian Elmer echoed the team’s confidence post-Selection Sunday: “I was very confident… It just wouldn’t look right for the sport, diminishing something like that.”[7]
“Miami (OH) left no doubt on Wednesday night in the First Four that they belonged in the NCAA Tournament.”[2]
Prairie View A&M’s Clutch Finish Sets Up Showdown
The evening’s opener at 6:40 p.m. ET saw No. 16 Prairie View A&M outlast No. 16 Lehigh on truTV, with Dontae Horne’s heroics proving decisive in sinking the Mountain Hawks.[1] Details of Horne’s game-winner capped a resilient performance from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) squad, earning them a first-round clash yet to be detailed in bracket updates.[1][8]
This marks Prairie View’s push for a deeper run, building on recent First Four appearances by SWAC foes like Howard.[7]
Path Ahead: Tennessee Looms for RedHawks
Victorious Miami now heads to Philadelphia for a first-round battle against No. 6 Tennessee, a matchup analytics models gave them just a 10% upset chance pre-game.[3][4] The Volunteers present a stark contrast: power conference pedigree versus Miami’s MAC dominance. Yet, the RedHawks’ clutch late-game execution—evident in their 31-game streak—and three-point prowess could rattle Tennessee.[2][8]
Committee chair Keith Gill defended Miami’s at-large bid, noting they ranked ahead of NC State, Texas, and SMU initially, only “scrubbed” below due to metrics and win quality—edging teams like Oklahoma and Auburn.[6] This is the MAC’s first at-large since 1999, alongside auto-bid winner Akron.[6]
Broader First Four Context
The First Four at UD Arena also featured high-profile coaches like Texas’ Sean Miller and NC State’s Will Wade in another matchup, though outcomes there shifted brackets.[7] Broadcast on truTV via DIRECTV, the games drew stars like Charles Barkley, Dick Vitale, and even wrestler John Cena hyping Miami.[9]
Miami’s triumph validates their inclusion amid debates—no power foes, yet a 31-1 record that “doesn’t happen by accident.”[8] Areas for growth include late-clock management and defense, described as “mostly ordinary.”[2][8] Still, basking in their first NCAA win since 2007, the RedHawks aim to extend the Cinderella story.[7]
Tournament Outlook
| First Four Results | Winner Advances To |
|---|---|
| Prairie View A&M def. Lehigh | TBD First Round |
| Miami (Ohio) 89, SMU 79 | vs. No. 6 Tennessee (Philadelphia) |
As March Madness unfolds toward the April 6 championship on TBS/truTV, Miami and Prairie View embody the tournament’s magic: underdogs rising.[1] Tennessee awaits, but the RedHawks have already proven they belong.
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