CLEVELAND — Miami’s historic run is over. The Redhawks’ memorable season continues.
Only time will tell if it continues where they hope it does.
Eighth-seeded Massachusetts rallied from an 11-point second half deficit and stunned No. 1 Miami 87-83 in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 12. The RedHawks (31-1) were the nation’s only unbeaten team. Now they are not even guaranteed to play in the NCAA Tournament.
The MAC has not had a team receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament since Miami did it in 1999. The 2025-26 RedHawks have given themselves and the conference national recognition. The consensus among a lot of people is the MAC’s long stretch as a one-bid league should be over.
“It would be an embarrassment, a complete embarrassment, if this league doesn’t get two teams in,” Massachusetts head coach Frank Martin.
Miami lived on the edge during a regular season that included many close calls. The RedHawks’ last three regular season games were decided by two points. Four of their games this season went to overtime, including a 107-101 win at Kent State on Jan. 20.
It didn’t appear the RedHawks would be in danger with 8:33 left when they built an 11-point lead. Massachusetts regrouped, rallied and moved on to to a Friday, March 13 semifinal game against Toledo at 5 p.m.
For the RedHawks, the wait to see if they will be a part of March Madness or go to the NIT starts.
“I told our group our journey is still going to continue,” Miami head coach Travis Steele said. “This isn’t the end of it.
“This wasn’t what we wanted to do. Our goal was to win the MAC Tournament championship. Unfortunately we’re not going to be able to do that.”
This was Miami’s first loss since last year’s defeat to Akron in the MAC Tournament championship game. They had an 18-point lead against the Zips in that game.
Leonardo Bettiol scored a game-high 25 points for Massachusetts (17-15). Brant Byers led Miami with 17.
Here’s how the game unfolded through our lives updates.
Massachusetts stuns Miami, ends RedHawks’ 31-game winning streak
Miami’s historic run is over, Massachusetts rallies from an 11-point second half deficit and stuns the RedHawks 87-83, ending Miami’s 31-game winning streak.
Massachusetts roars back, leads Miami late
Buckle up for another frantic finish in a Miami game.
Massachusetts has stormed back from 11 down and leads the RedHawks 81-79 with 2:26 left. Luka Damjanac’s first basket of the game gives the Minutemen the lead.
Trey Perry 3 helps Miami match biggest lead
Trey Perry hits Miami’s fifth 3 of the half and ninth of the game. The RedHawks match their biggest lead at 66-56 with 10:04 left.
Miami starting to heat up from 3-point range
The RedHawks are 3 of 4 from 3-point range in the second half. They were 4 of 18 from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
Miami leads 56-49 with 11:51 remaining. The RedHawks will also be in the bonus the rest of the way.
Luke Skaljac helps give Miami its biggest lead
Luke Skaljac hits a 3.
An Eian Elmer steal leads to a Skaljac layup.
Miami has its biggest lead at 45-38 with 17:51 to go in the game.
Miami grabs lead in final half second of first half
Antwone Woolfolk’s basket off a Luke Skaljac assist at the buzzer gives Miami a 39-37 halftime lead.
A long Massachusetts inbounds pass that was not touched gave the RedHawks possession underneath their own basket with five-tenths of a second left in the first half. Woolfolk converted to give himself a game-high 11 points in the first half.
Leonardo Bettiol has 9 points for the Minutemen, who shot 53% from the field in the first half.
Back and forth first half between Miami and Massachusetts continues
The biggest lead for either team in the first half has been four. The RedHakws have been involved in plenty of games like this during their unbeaten run.
Massachusetts leads Miami 30-29 with 3:55 to go in the first half.
Antwone Woolfolk helps push Miami in front
Miami’s Antwone Woolfolk is off to a great start. The 6-foot-9 forward is 4 of 4 from the field and has a team-high 8 points for the RedHawks, who lead 24-23 with 7:24 to go in the first half.
Massachusetts men’s basketball Final Four ties
With Massachusetts holding a 17-16 lead at the 11:26 mark of the first half, let’s take a look at some of the Minutemen’s Final Four ties.
Massachusetts went to the Final Four as an Atlantic 10 school in 1996 under John Calipari. That appearance was later cated by the NCAA.
Current head coach Frank Martin led South Carolina to the Final Four as a No. 7 seed in 2017.
Miami and Massachusetts are underway at Rocket Arena
Miami and Massachusetts are tied at 8-8 with 15:45 to go in the first half. No sign of morning game fatigue for these two sides.
Miami vs. Massachusetts men’s basketball 2025-26 season series
Eian Elmer scored a career-high 30 points to help lead Miami to an 86-84 win over Massachusetts on Jan. 27 in Oxford. The victory was the RedHawks’ 21st in a row, tying Kent State’s 2001-02 Elite Eight team for the longest in-season winning streak in MAC history.
Miami improved to 26-0 with an 86-77 win at Massachusetts on Feb. 17. Luke Skaljac had 16 points and seven assists for the RedHawks.
Miami men’s basketball’s 31-0 run, game-by-game
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Miami basketball’s unbeaten run ends in MAC Tournament upset by UMass
Reporting by Mike Popovich, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
