- Miami (OH) defeated SMU 89-79 in the NCAA Tournament First Four, led by a dominant performance from beyond the three-point arc.
- The Mustangs' season ended without an elusive tournament win as they struggled to defend the perimeter, despite high-scoring games from Jaden Toombs and Jaron Pierre Jr.
- The RedHawks advance to face Tennessee in the Round of 64 this Friday at 3:25 p.m.
DAYTON, Ohio – SMU fell to Miami (OH) 86-79 on Wednesday night in a First Four match-up of the NCAA Tournament at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
The Mustangs’ season comes to an end as SMU remains without an NCAA Tournament victory since 1988, as they were unable to overcome the hot-shooting Miami RedHawks.
RedHawks' three-point shooting ends Mustangs' run
What we know
SMU's senior guard B.J. Edwards was expected to return to the lineup for SMU after missing the last five games with an ankle injury. Just hours before the game, it was announced that Edwards would not play in the First Four match-up, but the team was optimistic about his availability if the Mustangs did advance.
SMU seemed to struggle to keep pace with Miami (OH)’s perimeter shooting, as the RedHawks caught fire from three-point range and built on a 43-34 halftime lead.
Miami (OH) controlled the game with balanced scoring and efficient offense, earning its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1999.
The RedHawks finished the game knocking down 16 three-pointers on 39% shooting from beyond the arc, stretching SMU’s defense throughout the game. Junior guard Eian Elmer led the RedHawks with 23 points. Elmer, along with guard Brant Byers and center Luke Skaljac, shot lights out from behind the arc, totaling 13 of the RedHawks 16 three-pointers.
Toombs leads SMU’s second-half rally
Dig deeper
In the second half, the Mustangs gained momentum by being aggressive in the paint, using their size to gain a rebound advantage around the basket. Freshman center, Jaden Toombs, led both teams in rebounds and did not miss a basket for the Mustangs until about nine minutes left in regulation.
Toombs finished the game leading the Mustangs with 20 points.
Despite the duo accounting for more than half of SMU's points, they were unable to match Miami (OH)’s offensive efficiency, totaling just a third of the three pointers as their opponent.
Miami (OH) advances to face Tennessee
What's next
Next stop: Philly#UnFinishedBusiness || #MiamiMindset || #RiseUpRedHawkspic.twitter.com/Dx8JCgvJx0
— Miami Men’s Basketball (@MiamiOH_BBall) March 19, 2026
The win showcases just why the RedHawks had the fewest losses in the nation this season, with a 31-1 record.
Miami (OH) advances to face Tennessee in the Round of 64 on Friday, March 20 at 3:25 p.m.
Information in this article was provided by live coverage of the NCAA Tournament.