Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Dominate SMU in First Four Showdown
Eian Elmer led the charge with 22 points, including six three-pointers, as the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks defeated the SMU Mustangs 89-79 in the First Four on Wednesday night. This victory marks the RedHawks' first NCAA Tournament win in 27 years, silencing critics who doubted their at-large bid after an unbeaten regular season.
RedHawks' Three-Point Barrage Secures Victory
The 11th-seeded RedHawks, who finished the regular season with a perfect 31-0 record, showcased their offensive prowess by sinking 16 of 41 three-point attempts. Brant Byers contributed 19 points with four threes, while Luke Skaljac added 17 points. Coach Travis Steele emphasized an aggressive approach, stating, "The message I gave our guys before the game was they should leave no doubt with who the more attacking team was."
Despite SMU's size advantage, with 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu fouling out late in the game, the RedHawks matched them with 35 rebounds and 17 second-chance points. Jaden Toombs led SMU with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but the Mustangs struggled from beyond the arc, making only 5 of 19 attempts.
Prairie View A&M Makes NCAA Tournament History
In another First Four matchup, Prairie View A&M secured their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory with a 67-55 win over Lehigh. Dontae Horne scored 25 points, and Cory Wells added 19, propelling the Panthers to advance as the No. 16 seed in the South Region. They will face top-seeded Florida next.
Lehigh's leading scorer, Nasir Whitlock, was held to just five points on 2-of-15 shooting, marking his lowest output since November. Hank Alvey led Lehigh with 23 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Prairie View's historic performance.
RedHawks Look Ahead to Tennessee Matchup
With this win, Miami (Ohio) advances to play No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Midwest Region. Elmer reflected on the team's confidence, saying, "We're not really focused on proving whether we belong, honestly. Everybody in the locker room thinks we do." The RedHawks aim to continue their March Madness journey, building on a season that has already defied expectations.
