HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — The Miami Redhawks, the nation’s last remaining unbeaten team in men’s Division I basketball, faced a stern road test against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday night. They passed it with a display of offensive efficiency and defensive resolve, leaving the Cam Henderson Center with a 90-74 victory to extend their remarkable season start to 24-0.

A crowd of 5,475 saw the Redhawks seize control with a dominant first half, building an 18-point lead they would never seriously relinquish. Miami shot a blistering 55.9% from the field for the game, scoring 90 points on just 72 possessions for an elite offensive rating of 125.0. In contrast, Marshall (15-9) managed only a 40% shooting afternoon and an offensive rating of 101.3 despite having one more possession than the visitors.

The most important part of the game was Miami’s immediate and sustained offensive execution in the opening period. The Redhawks raced out to a 49-31 halftime lead by dissecting the Marshall defense with precision. They shot 8 of 18 from three-point range in the half, with Eian Elmer hitting three early triples that helped establish momentum. Miami’s 49-point first-half outburst, built on a foundation of 33 points in the paint for the game, created a cushion that allowed them to withstand a more competitive second half.

Marshall, led by a game-high 23 points from guard Noah Otshudi of Hamilton, Ontario, showed fight after the break. The Thundering Herd outscored Miami 43-41 in the second half, using a 16-9 advantage in fastbreak points to chip away. A layup by Otshudi with 4:17 to play cut Miami’s lead to 68-58, prompting a Redhawks timeout.

But each time Marshall threatened, Miami had an answer, often from its star forward. Elmer, a 6-foot-6 junior from Covington, Kentucky, finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, a block and a steal in 34 minutes, providing steady leadership. His back-to-back free throws and a subsequent blocked shot on Marshall’s Wyatt Fricks during that key second-half stretch helped stem the tide.

Elmer was supported by a balanced and physical effort. Antwone Woolfolk, a 6-foot-9 forward from Cleveland, Ohio, contributed 15 points and seven rebounds, while Peter Suder added 17 points and seven boards. Guard Luke Skaljac orchestrated the offense with seven assists to go with 12 points.

For Marshall, Otshudi’s scoring was complemented by a double-double from Wyatt Fricks, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jalen Speer and Landen Joseph each added 13 points, with Joseph also contributing three steals. The Thundering Herd won the battle on the offensive glass, 16-10, but could not overcome their poor shooting from deep, connecting on just 8 of 29 three-point attempts.

The victory continued a dream season for Miami, which entered the game with a 65.1% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system. The combined score of 164 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 162.5.

Miami now looks ahead to a marquee Mid-American Conference showdown next Saturday when they host rival Ohio. Marshall, which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, travels to face Old Dominion on Wednesday in Sun Belt Conference play.