KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Trey Perry netted a driving basket in the final second, propelling No. 21 Miami of Ohio to a 69-67 comeback victory over Western Michigan on Friday evening, thus stretching their season-opening winning streak to 29 consecutive games.
The RedHawks (16-0 Mid-American Conference) stand as the sole unbeaten squad in NCAA Division I men’s basketball. Miami prolonged the finest start in its program’s history and further improved its institutional record for seasonal victories. Additionally, Miami holds the premier beginning and lengthiest winning run in MAC annals.
Peter Suder tallied 18 markers for the RedHawks prior to being disqualified due to fouls with slightly more than seven minutes left. Almar Atlason contributed an additional 16 points, Perry concluded with 14, while Eian Elmer chipped in 10.
Jayden Brewer headed Western Michigan’s effort (10-19, 4-12), amassing 19 points and securing 11 boards. Justice Williams and EJ Ryans both supplied 14 markers apiece.
Miami is accustomed to tight contests, having secured its seventh victory this season with a margin of fewer than six points.
The RedHawks were down by four points, 30-26, going into halftime and found themselves trailing by eight points on two occasions early in the latter half, prior to evening the score at 49 with 11:02 left on the clock.
Western Michigan rattled off an 8-0 run to take a 57-49 lead with 8:40 remaining, and then held a nine-point advantage (59-50) with 6:38 left, prior to Miami gradually narrowing the gap and seizing a 66-65 lead via an Antwone Woolfolk layup with just 14 seconds remaining.
A free throw by Elmer with 37 seconds left granted the RedHawks a 67-65 advantage; however, Western Michigan evened the score at 67 with 11 seconds remaining, courtesy of a basket by Williams, before Perry delivered the decisive shot.