OXFORD, Ohio (Interstat) — In a tense Mid-American Conference clash that came down to the final seconds, the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks preserved their perfect season, edging the Akron Zips 76-73 on Saturday afternoon at a packed Millett Hall.

The victory, witnessed by 4,111 fans, extended Miami’s remarkable start to 15-0 overall. Akron, which led for much of the contest, fell to 9-4.

The game’s defining sequence unfolded in the final 21 seconds with Miami clinging to a 72-71 lead. Akron’s Amani Lyles was called for a foul on Miami’s Peter Suder, sending the Redhawks’ point guard to the line. Suder missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second, pushing the lead to two.

On the ensuing possession, Akron’s Shammah Scott saw his potential go-ahead 3-pointer blocked by Miami’s Eian Elmer. A scramble for the loose ball resulted in a foul on Akron’s Evan Mahaffey with 19 seconds left, sending Elmer back to the stripe. The junior forward from Covington, Kentucky, buried both free throws to give Miami a 74-71 cushion.

Akron’s last best chance came on its next trip. Sharron Young’s 3-point attempt to tie rimmed out, and Miami’s Brant Byers secured the critical defensive rebound. Fouled immediately, Byers made one of two free throws with five seconds left for a four-point lead. A last-second 3-pointer by Akron’s Scott at the buzzer provided the final margin but did not alter the outcome.

The frantic finish capped a second-half comeback by the Redhawks, who trailed 36-33 at halftime. Miami’s offense, which sputtered early, found its rhythm after the break, shooting 43 points on improved efficiency. The Redhawks’ success was largely built at the free-throw line, where they converted 25 of 30 attempts, a stark contrast to Akron’s 9-of-10 performance.

Brant Byers led all scorers and was the catalyst for Miami. The 6-foot-8 forward from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, scored 26 points, including 11 in the second half, and went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. His driving layup with just over four minutes to play gave Miami a 63-61 lead, part of a crucial 7-0 run that swung momentum permanently in the Redhawks’ favor.

Byers was supported by a stellar all-around performance from Eian Elmer, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Point guard Peter Suder orchestrated the offense with nine assists to go with nine points, though he committed six turnovers.

Akron was led by the backcourt duo of Tavari Johnson and Shammah Scott. Johnson, a 5-foot-11 guard from La Grange Park, Illinois, scored 22 points and dished out four assists. Scott, from Cleveland, added 15 points, all from beyond the arc where he went 5-for-13. In the frontcourt, Amani Lyles of Columbus posted 16 points and nine rebounds, while Eric Mahaffey of Cincinnati recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Zips controlled the first half with active defense, forcing nine Miami turnovers and converting them into 11 points. Akron led by as many as seven points in the period, but Miami stayed close thanks to eight first-half points from Antwone Woolfolk, who finished with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

Statistically, the game was a study in contrasting styles. Akron attempted 11 more field goals than Miami but made only 43.8 percent of them, including a frigid 8-of-32 from 3-point range. Miami countered by being more selective and drawing fouls, attempting 20 more free throws. The Redhawks also won the possession battle, scoring their 76 points on just 71 possessions for an offensive rating of 106.7, compared to Akron’s 99.0 rating on 74 possessions.

Defensively, Akron’s pressure was evident with 11 steals, but 15 turnovers of their own and Miami’s ability to get to the line proved decisive. The Redhawks’ bench was also a key factor, outscoring Akron’s reserves 20-9.

The win keeps Miami (Ohio) as one of the few remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division I men’s basketball. The Redhawks will look to continue their streak when they host Western Michigan on Tuesday. Akron, which saw a three-game winning streak snapped, returns home to face Central Michigan, also on Tuesday.