Miami (OH) Defeats SMU in First Four Thriller

RedHawks advance to play Tennessee in NCAA Tournament's first round

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:35am

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The Miami (OH) RedHawks, the final at-large team to make the NCAA Tournament, defeated the SMU Mustangs 89-79 in the First Four matchup in Dayton, Ohio. Led by Eian Elmer's 23 points, the RedHawks set a First Four record with 41 3-point attempts and hit several clutch shots from beyond the arc to hold off SMU in the final minutes.

Why it matters

This marks Miami (OH)'s first NCAA Tournament victory this century, giving the one-loss 11th-seeded RedHawks a chance to pull off an upset against No. 6 Tennessee in the first round. The loss ends SMU's season after the Mustangs earned an at-large bid to the Big Dance.

The details

Miami (OH) was led by Eian Elmer's 23 points, including 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Bryant Byers added 19 points and Luke Skaljac chipped in 17 for the RedHawks, who shot 41 3-pointers, a First Four record. SMU was paced by 20 points from center Jalen Toombs and 18 from guard Jahmar Pierre Jr., but the Mustangs couldn't overcome Miami (OH)'s hot shooting from deep.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 19, 2026 in Dayton, Ohio.

The players

Eian Elmer

A forward for the Miami (OH) RedHawks who scored a game-high 23 points, including 6 three-pointers.

Bryant Byers

A forward for the Miami (OH) RedHawks who scored 19 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.

Jalen Toombs

A center for the SMU Mustangs who recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Jahmar Pierre Jr.

A guard for the SMU Mustangs who scored 18 points and dished out 4 assists.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been hitting on all cylinders tonight. The guys really stepped up when it mattered most.”

— Travis Steele, Head Coach, Miami (OH) RedHawks

“It's tough to end the season this way, but I'm proud of how our team battled. We just couldn't match their hot shooting from deep.”

— Rob Lanier, Head Coach, SMU Mustangs

What’s next

The 11th-seeded Miami (OH) RedHawks will face the 6th-seeded Tennessee Volunteers on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Philadelphia.

The takeaway

Miami (OH)'s upset victory over SMU in the First Four showcases the unpredictability of March Madness, as the one-loss RedHawks now have a chance to pull off another surprise against a higher-seeded opponent in Tennessee. This game highlights the importance of hot shooting and clutch performances in the NCAA Tournament.