DAYTON, OHIO — The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks men's basketball team defeated SMU by a score of 89-79 in their First Four game on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 in Dayton, Ohio. Miami (Ohio) entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 11 seed.

Guard Eian Elmer scored 23 points and made six 3-pointers in the game. Guard Brant Byers scored 19 points and guard Luke Skalijac scored 17 points.

It was Miami (Ohio)'s first NCAA Tournament win in 27 years. The RedHawks recorded their largest victory margin in an NCAA Tournament game and made 16 three-pointers in the game, the most in an NCAA Tournament game in team history. The team posted its highest scoring total in a tournament contest since 1958.

Head coach Travis Steele said, "The message I gave our guys before the game was they should leave no doubt with who the more attacking team was. I thought that was very evident from the jump ball all the way to the end of the game." Steele said, "This wasn't an upset tonight, at all."

For SMU, center Jaden Toombs scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while guard Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 18 points. SMU has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 1988.

Miami was ousted early from the Mid-American Conference postseason tournament despite finishing the regular season with a 31-0 record. The early exit from the conference tournament put the team on the bubble for NCAA Tournament selection, and Miami was selected to play in the First Four games of the NCAA Tournament.

Guard Eian Elmer said, "We're not really focused on proving whether we belong, honestly. Everybody in the locker room thinks we do. I just think if anything we're just going to go out there, play our hardest and have fun." Miami (Ohio) will play Tennessee in a first-round game on Friday in Philadelphia.

The RedHawks were 6.5-point underdogs against SMU. Miami (Ohio) led for most of the game. The team traveled about 25 miles from Oxford, Ohio to Dayton for the game.

Some members of the Miami (Ohio) student section that traveled to Dayton wore swim trunks and caps. During the second half, Miami (Ohio) fans successfully distracted an SMU player at the foul line.