MIAMI BASKETBALL

Miami hosts upset-minded Chippewas Tuesday

CMU coming off upset win over Kent State

Miami attempts to keep the wins rolling Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN+) when it hosts Central Michigan 

The Chippewas have a rather unimpressive record, standing 5-12 overall and 1-4 in MAC play. That one league win, however, came Saturday when CMU handed Kent State its first league loss (87-85). At the same time, it snapped a five-game Chippewas losing streak.

Central Michigan moved . . . 

---

. . . in front for good (81-80) with 2:12 remaining and sealed the win with a pair of free throws from Phat Phat Brooks with 14 seconds left. Jahari Williamson led KSU with 23 points, including 18 from beyond the arc and five from the chartity stripe. Morgan Safford, who played at Miami in 2022-23, scored 20 points (8 rebounds) and Cian Medley added 14. 
Kent State's Delrecco Gillespie, a 6-8 forward who is averaging 19.3 ppg (3rd MAC) was held to eight points on 4 of 12 from the field. However, he grabbed 23 rebounds (6 off). His 12.4 rpg average is easily tops among all MAC players. 

Central Michigan Key Stats
Scoring offense: 72.8 ppg (11th MAC)
Scoring defense: 78.7 ppg (12th MAC)
Scoring margin:  -5.0 (13th/last MAC)
Field goal percentage: 45.3% (9th MAC)
3-point percentage: 28.2% (13th/last MAC)
Rebounding: 33.4 rpg (11th)
Turnover margin: 0.12 (8th MAC)
Leading scorer: Senior center Nathan Claerbaut (12.5 ppg)

Miami Key Stats: 
Scoring offense: 92.9 ppg (2nd MAC)
Scorind defense: 72.3 ppg (5th MAC)
Scoring margin: 20.6 ppg (1st MAC)
Field goal percentage: 53.4% (1st MAC)
3-point percentage: 41.5% (1st MAC)
Rebounding: 36.9 rpg (5th MAC)
Turnover margin: 2.12 (5th MAC)
Leading scorer: Brant Byers (15.1 ppg). Six players averaging double figures. 

THE SERIES WITH THE CHIPPEWAS: This Tuesday's home contest against the Chippewas will be the 85th meeting between the two programs. Miami leads in the series 58-26 all-time, as the Red and White are 29-10 when playing in Oxford against the Chippewas. Miami is currently on a two-game winning streak against the Chippewas, as the RedHawks' last victory over Central Michigan was a 76-70 win in Mount Pleasant on Feb. 4, 2025.

RANKINGS: Miami received 49 votes in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll on Monday, Jan. 12. The Red and White reached its highest ranking of the 2025-26 season on the Mid-Major Top 25® Poll, as Collegeinsider announced its new poll Monday, Jan. 5, with the RedHawks ranked No. 2 overall. The RedHawks are just one of five teams that are still undefeated at the Division I level (Arizona, Iowa State, Miami, Nebraska and Vanderbilt).