KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Interstat) — The final undefeated team in men’s NCAA Division I basketball remained perfect Friday night, but not before surviving a scare that threatened to rewrite history.

The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, now 29-0, escaped University Arena with a 69-67 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos in a tense Mid-American Conference clash that was decided in the final second. Trey Perry’s driving layup with one second left on the clock broke a 67-67 tie and preserved the Redhawks’ remarkable season.

Western Michigan, which fell to 9-18, had one final desperation heave after Perry’s basket, but it fell short, sending the crowd of 3,193 into a stunned silence and the Redhawks into a relieved celebration.

The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 6, an 87-76 Miami win. This time, the Broncos, led by Jayden Brewer’s 19 points, dictated the physical tone and outworked the nation’s last unbeaten for large stretches. Western Michigan held a 30-26 halftime lead and maintained a slim advantage for much of the second half, leveraging a 9-2 edge in offensive rebounds to generate extra possessions.

Miami’s offense, which entered the game averaging over 86 points, was uncharacteristically sluggish. The Redhawks shot just 48.1% from the field (25 of 52) and a concerning 60% from the free-throw line (15 of 25). Their offensive rating of 98.7 points per 100 possessions was well below their season standard. Western Michigan wasn’t much more efficient, shooting 42.1% and posting a 99.3 offensive rating, but their grit kept them in control.

The Redhawks’ defense and key plays from their stars ultimately provided the narrow path to victory. They forced 10 Western Michigan turnovers while committing only eight, and recorded five steals to the Broncos’ two. With the game on the line, Miami’s top performers delivered.

Peter Suder led Miami with 18 points, providing critical interior scoring. Almar Atlason, the 6-foot-8 forward from Reykjavik, Iceland, added 16 points, including two crucial three-pointers in the second half. Perry finished with 14 points and three assists, none bigger than his game-winning drive.

Western Michigan’s effort was spearheaded by Brewer. Justice Williams added 14 points, and EJ Ryans chipped in 14 points and three assists. The Broncos had a chance to take the lead in the final minute, but a missed layup by Ryans with 15 seconds left set the stage for Miami’s final possession.

After a timeout, Miami worked the clock down. Perry, isolated near the top of the key, used a screen and drove hard down the left side of the lane, finishing through contact to put the Redhawks ahead. The play capped a second half in which Miami outscored Western Michigan 43-37, just enough to overcome their first-half deficit.

The victory extends Miami’s best start in program history and sets up a high-stakes final week of the regular season. The Redhawks will host Toledo on Tuesday before traveling to face Ohio on Friday. Western Michigan will host Ball State on Tuesday before visiting Kent State on Friday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Miami had a 90.6% probability to win. The combined score of 136 points fell well under the over/under line of 163.5, underscoring the defensive, grind-it-out nature of the contest. In the end, perfection remained intact, but by the slimmest of margins.