MIAMI BASKETBALL

Skaljac, Elmer lead RedHawks to 27th straight win

Luke Skaljac celebrates an and-one opportunity. . (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
​OXFORD, OH -- Luke Skaljac (career-high 24) and Eian Elmer (21) combined for 45 points as No. 22 Miami remained unbeaten with a 91-77 victory over Bowling Green Friday at Millett Hall.

Miami is now 27-0 (14-0 MAC) with four regular season games remaining. Three are on the road. The Falcons fell to 7-9 in MAC play (16-12 overall) as they battle to stay among an eight-team field headed to Cleveland for the upcoming MAC tournament. 

Javontae Campbell, who . . . 

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Justin Kirby scores during a Miami run that helped the RedHawks build a 15-point halftime lead (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . ranks third among MAC scorers (18.8 ppg), led the BGSU effort, tying for game-high scoring honors with 24 points. He also recorded six rebounds and six assists. Joining him in double figures were Mayar Wol (15 points) and Josiah Shakelford (12 points). Both connected on three treys as the visitors hit 10 of 25 from long distance over 40 minutes. 

Bowling Green stayed close and was up 21-19 after three Javon Ruffin free throws at 11:25 of the first period. Skaljac responded with a triple and Elmer got a steal -- one of his five on the night -- to set up Justin Kirby's fast break basket at the other end. The flurry kicked off a 24-9 MU run that gave MU a 45-30 lead at intermission. 

A Skaljac triple early in the second half opened up an 18-point lead. Bowling Green could only get as close as eight (59-51) at 13:26. Miami then gradually expanded its advantage to 21 points (85-64) at 3:07 before finishing with a 14-point edge. 

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​"Miami is fantastic, especially at home.They make you pay for every mistake. They are so good offensively, BGSU head coach Todd Simon said. Near the end of that first half, we had way too many empty possessions on offense. We cleaned that up in the second half, did a much better job, but we needed that for the full 40 minutes."

Eian Elmore launches one of his five 3-pointers during a 21-point performance. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES:
•  Miami visits Eastern Michigan Tuesday (6:30 p.m.). Bowling Green hosts Western Michigan Tuesday (7 p.m.)
•  The RedHawks connected on 30 of 58 (51.7%) from the field overall and 8 of 18 on threes (44.4%). They made 18 of 27 free throws (66.7%). 
The Falcons finished with two less field goals (28/64, 43.8%) and three less 3-pointers (10/25, 40%). BGSU connected on 11 of 15 (73.3%) of its free throws.
•  Joining Skaljac and Elmer in double figures for MU were Antwone Woolfolk and Peter Suder with 10 apiece. 
•  Suder, Woolfolk and Eli Yofan were honored in Senior Night pregame ceremonies. 
•  Suder ran into some foul problems and, while he finished with four fouls, was limited to just under 23 minutes on the court. 
•  Miami is 14-0 in conference play for the first time in program history.
•  Miami has matched the record of 15 straight home wins over the course of one season that was originally set in the 2024-25 season.
•  The RedHawks are tied with Duke for the longest home winning streak in the nation at 30 consecutive wins.
•  Miami extended the program record for most wins in a season to 27 (previously: 25 last season).
•  Skaljac has scored in double figures in each of his last nine contests and reached the 20-point mark for the first time in his career.
Miami's 13 made three-pointers  matches the team's highest total in conference play; Skaljac and Elmer each drained five.

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Miami head coach Travis Steele shouts instructions to his team during second half action of MU's Friday night matchup against Bowling Green. (MVSmith/MRO)