This time it came down to a missed fadeaway 3-pointer from Buffalo’s Ryan Sabol to win 73-71 after the 24th-ranked Redhawks (23-0, 11-0 in MAC play) were unable to go up 5-points on a pair of missed free throws from Luke Skaljac, who finished with a team-high 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and five steals, four rebounds and three assists.
It’s the second time in the last two and a half weeks that Miami was able to escape an upset against Buffalo.
The way Miami’s game played out — a missed free throw and having the other team go short on a game-winning 3-point attempt — was its second close call in the last seven days, with the other being an 86-84 win over UMass on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
It also marked the fourth single-digit win in the last five games for the Redhawks, with two of them coming against the Bulls.
‘The results will take care of themselves if our process is right,’ Miami coach Travis Steele told USA TODAY Sports’ Craig Meyer recently on the Redhawks’ run. ‘It may not always happen immediately, but eventually it will figure itself out. That’s why our guys have been so loose. We feel no pressure, none. Our guys are enjoying it. We’re having fun on this journey together.’
Miami will look to extend its 23-game win streak on the road in Huntington, West Virginia against Marshall at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 7.
Miami Ohio basketball 2026 schedule
Here’s who the RedHawks have left on their schedule:
All times Eastern
Feb. 7: at Marshall, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
Feb. 13: vs. Ohio, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
Feb. 17: at UMass, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Feb. 21: vs. Bowling Green, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Feb. 24: at Eastern Michigan, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Feb. 28: at Western Michigan, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
March 3: vs. Toledo, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
March 6: at Ohio, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
March 12-14: MAC Tournament, at Cleveland
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