OXFORD, Ohio (Interstat) — In a tense, back-and-forth battle that came down to the final possession, the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks preserved their perfect season, edging the Toledo Rockets 74-72 in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball thriller on Tuesday night at a sold-out Millett Hall.

The victory extended Miami’s remarkable record to 30 wins and 0 losses, while Toledo fell to 16-14. The game, played before an energized crowd of 10,640, was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting in January, which Miami won decisively by 14 points.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. With the score tied at 72 and under 50 seconds remaining, Miami’s Luke Skaljac found Antwone Woolfolk cutting to the basket for a decisive layup with 40 seconds left, putting the Redhawks ahead for good. Toledo had a chance to tie or take the lead on its ensuing possession, but Leroy Blyden’s driving attempt was thwarted by a Peter Suder block with 24 seconds left. The Rockets retained possession, but a costly turnover by Blyden, stripped by Skaljac with just 13 seconds remaining, sealed their fate.

Miami built its victory on efficient shooting and capitalizing on Toledo’s mistakes. The Redhawks shot 50% from the field, connecting on 12 of 32 three-point attempts, and outscored Toledo 24-9 from beyond the arc. They also converted Toledo’s 15 turnovers into key opportunities, despite committing 15 of their own. Toledo’s defense was active, recording 13 steals, but the team struggled offensively from deep, making only 6 of 21 three-pointers.

Peter Suder led Miami with 19 points and four assists, providing steady leadership throughout. Woolfolk, a force inside, added 14 points, including the game-winning basket. Brant Byers contributed 13 points, and Luke Skaljac scored 11, including two crucial free throws down the stretch. Eian Elmer anchored the defense with four blocks.

Toledo was led by a game-high 21 points from Leroy Blyden, who also had two assists. Sonny Wilson orchestrated the offense with 13 points and six assists, while Mynor Strong came off the bench to add 10 points. The Rockets dominated the glass with 40 total rebounds to Miami’s 28, including 13 offensive boards, but could not overcome their poor perimeter shooting.

The first half set the stage for the drama, featuring eight ties and five lead changes. Miami used a 12-3 run midway through the period to open a 20-9 lead, fueled by three-pointers from Suder and Byers. Toledo responded with a 14-5 surge of its own, capped by a Blyden three-pointer, to close the gap to 25-23. The Redhawks managed to take a 40-35 lead into halftime after a late Suder layup.

The second half saw Toledo chip away, finally tying the game at 56 on an Austin Parks layup with 9:32 remaining. From there, neither team led by more than four points. Toledo took a brief 70-68 lead on a Will James jump shot with 3:18 left, but Miami answered with a Woolfolk three-pointer on the next possession to regain the lead, setting up the frantic final minutes.

The game was a defensive struggle by efficiency metrics, with both teams averaging just over one point per possession. Miami posted an offensive rating of 104.7 on its 71 possessions, while Toledo managed a 101.5 rating on an equal number of trips.

Miami now turns its attention to a road test at Ohio on Friday, aiming to continue its historic undefeated march. Toledo returns home to host Buffalo, also on Friday, looking to rebound and build momentum ahead of the conference tournament.