No. 12 Miami RedHawks (12-19; 5-13 MAC) vs. No. 5 Buffalo Bulls (20-11, 11-7 MAC)
Game 32: Monday, March 9 • 7:30 p.m.
Alumni Arena (6,783) • Buffalo, N.Y.
Series vs. Buffalo/Streak: Miami leads 25-22/Buffalo-4
Last Meeting: Buffalo 75 Miami 69, March 3, 2020
TV: ESPN+ • Paul Peck (PxP) Kevin Sylvester (Color)
Radio: Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner • Steve Baker (PxP) Terry Bridge (Color)
Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner Affiliates: WMOH 1450 Hamilton; WFMG 101.3 Richmond; WDBZ 1230 AM/101.5 FM Cincinnati; WONE 980 AM Dayton
 
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Miami University men's basketball team is the 12th seed in the MAC Tournament and will travel to fifth seed Buffalo for a first round game on Monday. Tip time is at 7:30 p.m. or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's MAC Tournament game between Buffalo and Miami that tips at 5 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.

MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: This is the 39th time Miami has qualified for the MAC Tournament, which ran for the first time in 1980. The Red and White are 40-34 all-time at the event and have won it four times in their history (1984, 1992, 1997 and 2007). Last season Miami was the ninth seed and fell to eighth seed Akron on the road, 80-51.

FACING BUFFALO IN MAC TOURNAMENT: Buffalo did not join the MAC until the 1998-99 season, so Miami's MAC Tournament history against the Bulls is limited. Nevertheless, this is the fifth meeting in the league tournament between the two schools with the RedHawks holding a 3-1 record. The first matchup was a first round victory for Miami, 71-60, in Oxford in 2002. The other three games all took place in Cleveland. In 2008, the RedHawks took a first round win over the Bulls, 69-68. Miami won in the MAC Quarterfinals, 73-59, in 2010. Buffalo earned a 94-81 MAC Quarterfinal victory in 2016. This will be the first time these teams meet in a MAC Tournament game in Buffalo.

ABOUT BUFFALO: The Bulls are 20-11 overall and finished 11-7 in the MAC. They have had a good follow-up campaign to their NCAA Tournament runs of the past couple of seasons, despite a new coaching staff and graduating key players from those runs. After defeating Miami last Tuesday, they closed the regular season with an 88-84 road victory at Bowling Green on Friday. Buffalo has five averaging in double figures led by junior guard Jayvon Graves. He is averaging 17.1 points per game.

THE SERIES WITH THE BULLS: Miami leads the all-time series with Buffalo, 25-22. The Bulls have won the last four meetings however, including a pair of tight contests this season. It started with an 83-78 thriller in their first meeting this season on Jan. 10 in Oxford. Each team went on long runs during the first half, with the RedHawks jumping to an 11-0 lead before the Bulls answered with a 21-2 run to go on top, 21-13. Miami fought back and took a 43-36 lead at halftime. Buffalo regained the advantage early in the second half and did not relinquish it despite the 'Hawks pulling within one possession several times. Junior forward Dalonte Brown led four in double figures with 18 points. Last Tuesday March 3 in Buffalo, the Bulls took a double digit lead before Miami closed to within one at 63-62. The RedHawks were unable to gain the advantage as Buffalo finished off a 75-69 win. Junior guard Nike Sibande and sophomore guard Mekhi Lairy had 13 points apiece for Miami.

UP NEXT: Miami has to win to keep its season alive. With a victory over Buffalo, the RedHawks will head to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland to take on fourth seed Northern Illinois in a MAC Tournament quarterfinal. Tip will be at approximately 2:30 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.