{"id":24725,"date":"2026-03-19T12:07:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/miami-ohio-smu-first-four-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T12:07:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:07:53","slug":"miami-ohio-smu-first-four-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/miami-ohio-smu-first-four-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami (Ohio) 89, SMU 79 \u2014 RedHawks Win First NCAA Tourney Game in 27 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><strong>Lead:<\/strong> On March 18, 2026 in Dayton, Ohio, Miami (Ohio) defeated SMU 89-79 in the First Four, securing the program\u2019s first NCAA Tournament victory in 27 years. Guard Eian Elmer led Miami with 22 points, hitting six of nine 3-pointers, while the 11th-seeded RedHawks (32-1) \u2014 unbeaten in the regular season \u2014 advanced in the Midwest Region to face No. 6 Tennessee. SMU (20-14) was paced by Jaden Toombs, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds. Miami\u2019s balanced perimeter attack (16 of 41 from long range) and contributions from Brant Byers (19) and Luke Skaljac (17) proved decisive.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Miami (Ohio) beat SMU 89-79 in the First Four on March 18, 2026, marking Miami\u2019s first NCAA Tournament victory in 27 years.<\/li>\n<li>Eian Elmer scored 22 points and made 6 of 9 three-pointers, anchoring Miami\u2019s outside scoring.<\/li>\n<li>Brant Byers added 19 points, including four 3-pointers, and Luke Skaljac contributed 17 points.<\/li>\n<li>The RedHawks shot 16 of 41 from 3-point range as a team; Miami finished the season 32-1, unbeaten in regular-season play.<\/li>\n<li>SMU\u2019s Jaden Toombs posted a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds; Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 18 and Boopie Miller 15.<\/li>\n<li>Miami advances in the Midwest Region to face No. 6 seed Tennessee in the next round.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Miami (Ohio) entered the NCAA Tournament after a standout season in which the RedHawks finished 32-1 and did not lose during the regular season. The program\u2019s run to the First Four followed a campaign built on perimeter shooting and a defensive identity that produced consistent results against mid-major and conference opponents. Although Miami returned to the NCAA field for the first time since 2007, the program had not recorded a tournament victory in 27 years, which added historical weight to Wednesday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n<p>SMU reached the tournament with a 20-14 record and a roster that relied on interior play and experienced scorers. The Mustangs had navigated a challenging schedule and entered Dayton aiming to extend their season, with Jaden Toombs and Jaron Pierre Jr. among their primary offensive options. The First Four setting \u2014 an opening-stage, win-or-go-home scenario \u2014 often rewards teams that can shoot efficiently and avoid extended scoring droughts, making Miami\u2019s hot outside night especially consequential.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The game tilted early toward Miami\u2019s long-range accuracy. Eian Elmer\u2019s 6-of-9 effort from beyond the arc stretched SMU\u2019s defense and forced rotations that opened driving lanes and kick-outs for other shooters. Brant Byers hit four triples and provided scoring punch off the wing, while Luke Skaljac supplied secondary offense and spacing. Collectively the RedHawks attempted 41 threes and converted 16, a volume that underpinned their 89-point output.<\/p>\n<p>SMU kept the game competitive through Jaden Toombs, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, repeatedly attacking the rim and securing second-chance opportunities. Jaron Pierre Jr. added 18 points and veteran scoring, and Boopie Miller chipped in 15, but the Mustangs couldn\u2019t match Miami\u2019s perimeter production. Critical defensive stops in late possessions, plus timely offensive rebounds, helped Miami maintain a lead down the stretch.<\/p>\n<p>Turnover margins and free-throw opportunities influenced the closing minutes; Miami managed the clock and shot selection to preserve a roughly 10-point cushion at the final horn. The RedHawks\u2019 depth \u2014 with multiple players able to hit from distance \u2014 limited SMU\u2019s ability to mount a sustained comeback. With the win, Miami booked a trip to face No. 6 Tennessee in the Midwest bracket.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Miami\u2019s victory underscores how high-volume, efficient 3-point shooting can flip tournament matchups. The RedHawks attacked the perimeter consistently and sustained makes across multiple players, forcing SMU into uncomfortable defensive assignments and opening interior lanes. For mid-major programs, such reliance on outside shooting can be high-variance, but when it connects \u2014 as it did for Miami (16 of 41) \u2014 it becomes a tournament-advancing weapon.<\/p>\n<p>From a seeding and matchup standpoint, Miami\u2019s next opponent, No. 6 Tennessee, presents a different challenge: a team likely to mix length, athleticism and half-court discipline. Miami will need to pair its perimeter scoring with tightened defense and rebounding to avoid being overmatched by a top-6 seed. Conversely, Miami\u2019s confidence from a postseason win and the continuity of a 32-1 season could provide psychological momentum.<\/p>\n<p>For SMU, the exit highlights persistent concerns about guarding the perimeter and containing hot shooting nights. The Mustangs produced noteworthy individual performances \u2014 Toombs\u2019 double-double and Pierre\u2019s scoring \u2014 but could not prevent Miami\u2019s balanced barrage. SMU\u2019s coaching staff will likely review matchups and rotation choices that exposed them to consecutive 3-point threats.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Team<\/th>\n<th>Final<\/th>\n<th>3PM<\/th>\n<th>3PA<\/th>\n<th>Record<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Miami (OH)<\/td>\n<td>89<\/td>\n<td>16<\/td>\n<td>41<\/td>\n<td>32-1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>SMU<\/td>\n<td>79<\/td>\n<td>&#8212;<\/td>\n<td>&#8212;<\/td>\n<td>20-14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Basic boxscore highlights (3-point attempts for SMU not provided in the primary summary).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The table above summarizes the key scoring totals and Miami\u2019s 3-point efficiency; full boxscore details (assists, turnovers, defensive rebounds) are available through the official game reports. Miami\u2019s ability to convert 6-of-9 from 3 via Eian Elmer illustrates how one player\u2019s night can shift a low-seed matchup. Analysts will compare Miami\u2019s season-long metrics against Tennessee\u2019s defense to gauge the likely efficiency gap in the next round.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We trusted our shots and stuck to the game plan \u2014 that confidence showed up tonight,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Miami (Ohio) postgame comments, as reported by ESPN\/AP<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We had chances, but Miami hit enough threes to keep us from catching up,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>SMU postgame remarks, as reported by ESPN\/AP<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;A First Four win can change a season\u2019s narrative; the momentum often matters more than seeding in the next game,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Basketball analyst commentary, aggregated from postgame coverage<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: First Four &#038; Seeding<\/summary>\n<p>The First Four are the opening matchups of the NCAA men\u2019s basketball tournament, involving the lowest automatic qualifiers and the last at-large teams to determine final entrants into the 64-team field. Winners of First Four games advance into the main 64-team bracket; seeding (1\u201316) pairs teams based on the selection committee\u2019s evaluations. For mid-major programs, a First Four victory both extends the season and provides a momentum boost before facing higher-seeded opponents.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>No widely distributed official updates have confirmed longer-term injury statuses for key players beyond the immediate postgame reports.<\/li>\n<li>Any internal roster or suspension details affecting Miami or SMU beyond this game were not reported in the primary game recaps and remain unverified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Miami (Ohio)\u2019s 89-79 win over SMU is a signature result for a 32-1 squad that combined prolific perimeter shooting with timely defense in a win-or-go-home setting. The victory breaks a 27-year drought for NCAA Tournament wins and marks a milestone return to postseason success for a program appearing in the tournament for the first time since 2007.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Miami will face a tougher test against No. 6 Tennessee; sustaining outside accuracy while tightening interior defense and rebounding will be critical. For SMU, the loss highlights areas for roster and tactical adjustment if the program aims to return to tournament contention next season.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/recap?gameId=401856436\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN \u2014 game recap (media)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/march-madness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AP News \u2014 March Madness hub (news agency)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: On March 18, 2026 in Dayton, Ohio, Miami (Ohio) defeated SMU 89-79 in the First Four, securing the program\u2019s first NCAA Tournament victory in 27 years. Guard Eian Elmer led Miami with 22 points, hitting six of nine 3-pointers, while the 11th-seeded RedHawks (32-1) \u2014 unbeaten in the regular season \u2014 advanced in the &#8230; <a title=\"Miami (Ohio) 89, SMU 79 \u2014 RedHawks Win First NCAA Tourney Game in 27 Years\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/miami-ohio-smu-first-four-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Miami (Ohio) 89, SMU 79 \u2014 RedHawks Win First NCAA Tourney Game in 27 Years\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24722,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Miami (OH) 89-79 SMU \u2014 RedHawks' First NCAA Win in 27 Years | The Daily Score","rank_math_description":"Miami (Ohio) beat SMU 89-79 in the First Four on March 18, 2026. Eian Elmer's 22 points (6-of-9 3PT) led the RedHawks as they advance to face No. 6 Tennessee. Read the recap and analysis.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Miami (OH), SMU, NCAA Tournament, Eian Elmer, First Four","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24725"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24725\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}