OXFORD, Ohio (Interstat) — The perfect season lives on. The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, the nation’s last remaining unbeaten team in Division I men’s basketball, methodically dispatched the visiting Ohio Bobcats 90-74 in a Mid-American Conference clash before a sold-out crowd of 10,640 at Millett Hall on Friday night.

The victory, fueled by a balanced and efficient offensive attack and a dominant second-half surge, pushes the Redhawks to a pristine 25-0 overall record. Ohio falls to 12-13.

The most important part of the game was Miami’s consistent ability to answer every Ohio push with a decisive run, never allowing the Bobcats to build any sustained momentum or seriously threaten after halftime. The Redhawks closed the first half on a 12-4 spurt to take a 43-35 lead into the break and then opened the second half with a 12-5 burst, extending their advantage to 55-40 within the first five minutes. This sequence effectively put the game out of reach, as Ohio never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Miami’s star forward Brant Byers, a 6-foot-8 junior from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, led all scorers with 21 points, showcasing his versatility with three blocked shots in 35 minutes. He was complemented perfectly by guard Peter Suder, who added 20 points and four assists. The Redhawks’ offensive engine, however, was point guard Luke Skaljac. The Brecksville, Ohio, native orchestrated the offense with precision, dishing out six assists to go with 12 points.

Ohio was led by the determined play of guard Jackson Paveletzke, who scored 22 points and handed out three assists in 36 minutes. Forward Javan Simmons provided an interior presence with 12 points, but the Bobcats struggled to match Miami’s offensive firepower and depth.

The game began competitively, with Ohio’s JJ Kelly opening the scoring on a jump shot and Simmons adding a tip-in. Miami responded quickly, with Eian Elmer scoring five early points to set the tone. The teams traded baskets for much of the first half, with Paveletzke keeping Ohio close. A three-pointer from Ohio’s Dior Conners cut Miami’s lead to 16-13 midway through the period, but the Redhawks began to create separation.

Key plays down the stretch of the first half underscored Miami’s control. After an Ohio turnover, Suder converted a jump shot. Following another Bobcats miscue, Elmer finished a layup. Just before the halftime buzzer, Justin Kirby drove for a layup to give Miami its eight-point cushion, capping a half where they shot effectively from the floor and capitalized on Ohio mistakes.

The second-half opening salvo was definitive. Byers was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws. After a Paveletzke jumper, Skaljac answered with a layup. A steal and assist from Conners led to a Kelly layup for Ohio, but Miami immediately responded with an Antwone Woolfolk layup off a Skaljac feed, forcing an Ohio timeout with the lead at 52-40.

From there, the Redhawks managed the game expertly. Whenever Ohio strung together a couple of baskets, Miami had a counter. A three-pointer from Almar Atlason, who finished with 11 points off the bench, pushed the lead to 63-52. Later, with the lead at 73-62, Skaljac found Elmer for a three-pointer, and then hit one himself on the next possession to extend the margin to 79-64 with just over six minutes to play, effectively sealing the outcome.

Miami’s statistical advantages were clear. They outscored Ohio 36-32 in the paint and assisted on 18 of their made field goals, demonstrating a cohesive offensive system. Defensively, they limited Ohio to just seven points off turnovers while committing few errors themselves.

The Redhawks, now 25-0, will look to continue their historic run when they travel to face Massachusetts on Tuesday. Ohio, which has lost two of its last three, returns home to host Ball State on Tuesday, aiming to get back to .500 in conference play.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Miami was projected with a 91.70 percent probability to win. The combined point total of 164 fell under the betting over/under line of 161.5.