No. 24 Miami (Ohio) improves to 21-0 by holding off UMass 86-84
OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — Eian Elmer scored a career-high 30 points and No. 24 Miami (Ohio) improved to 21-0, rallying in the second half and then holding on for an 86-84 victory over UMass on Tuesday night.
Miami is one of two unbeaten teams in Division I after fifth-ranked Nebraska lost 75-72 at No. 3 Michigan earlier Tuesday night. Top-ranked Arizona is 21-0 following an 86-83 win over No. 13 BYU on Monday night.
The victory also tied the RedHawks with the 2001-02 Kent State squad for the longest in-season winning streak in Mid-American Conference history.
Elmer was 9 of 14 from the field, including 6 for 11 on 3-pointers. The junior shooting guard, who also grabbed seven rebounds, had 18 points in the first half.
Peter Suder added 13 points and nine assists. Freshman guard Justin Kirby also scored 13 as Miami improved to 9-0 in conference play.
Leonardo Bettiol had 22 points and 16 rebounds for UMass (13-9, 4-6), which had won four of five. Marcus Banks Jr. scored 18 and Daniel Hankins-Sanford added 16.
Miami extended its lead to 82-75 with 2:07 remaining before the Minutemen made one final charge. K’Jei Parker sank three free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining after getting fouled by Kirby at the top of the key.
Suder was fouled with 4.4 seconds left. He hit the first free throw, but missed the second. Bettiol grabbed the rebound and passed to Isaiah Placide, whose desperation shot from halfcourt went off the glass, allowing the RedHawks to earn another close win after prevailing in overtime in their previous two games.
UMass was up 65-60 midway through the second half before Miami went on an 8-4 spurt. Elmer’s 3-pointer with 8:40 remaining gave the RedHawks a 69-68 lead, their first since the first minute of the game.
Up next
UMass hosts Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
Miami (Ohio) hosts Northern Illinois on Saturday.
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