The UMass Minutemen stunned the Miami Ohio RedHawks with an 87–83 victory in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals. The game took place on Thursday in Cleveland. Miami entered undefeated, but UMass delivered a dramatic comeback win.
Miami started the game with confidence and controlled the first half. The RedHawks moved the ball well and shot efficiently early. As a result, they built a narrow halftime lead. Miami led 39–37 after the opening 20 minutes.
However, the second half belonged to UMass. The Minutemen increased their tempo and attacked the offensive glass. That change shifted the momentum of the game. UMass eventually outscored Miami 50–44 after halftime.
Leonardo Bettiol led the Minutemen with a dominant performance. He finished with 25 points and eight rebounds. Marcus Banks added 18 points and hit the decisive three-pointer late in the game. Jayden Ndjigue contributed 16 points, while Daniel Hankins–Sanford scored 11. Four UMass players finished in double figures.
Claim Now UMass dominated in rebounds against Miami Ohio
Rebounding played a major role in the outcome. UMass dominated the glass with a 41–24 advantage. The Minutemen also collected 17 offensive rebounds. Those extra possessions produced 23 second-chance points.
Miami received balanced scoring but struggled to close the game. All five starters reached double digits. Brant Byers led the RedHawks with 17 points. Eian Elmer added 16, while Antwone Woolfolk finished with 11. Peter Suder and Luke Skaljac each scored 10 points.
The RedHawks shot well from three-point range. They made 12 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc. UMass relied more on interior scoring and rebounding. The Minutemen shot 52 percent from the field overall. Check the boxscore here.
UMass erased a double-digit deficit during the final stretch. A strong run tied the game at 71 with about five minutes remaining. Shortly afterward, Banks hit a crucial three to give UMass the lead. Miami never regained control.
With the win, UMass advanced to the MAC Tournament semifinals. Meanwhile, Miami dropped to 31-1 after its first loss of the season. The RedHawks now await their NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday.
