Photo by: Megan Walker
RedHawks Set to Host Akron Saturday Afternoon
1/2/2026 12:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SATURDAY: Miami returns home for a conference contest versus Akron on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 3:30 p.m. The Red and White enter this game with a 14-0 record, its best start to a season in program history. Miami ranks among the top of the nation in numerous statistical categories heading into this game, which includes being first in the country in effective field goal percentage (0.643), first in field goal percentage (54.6), first in three-point percentage (43.6), fifth in threes per game (11.8), fifth in scoring offense (94.9), 11th in scoring margin (23.0), 14th in free throw percentage (77.8), 22nd in bench points per game (35.36), 29th in defensive rebounds per game (28.50), 35th in assist/turnover ratio (1.64) and 37th in assists per game (18.1/game).
ABOUT AKRON: Akron is currently 10-3 (1-0 MAC), as the Zips are currently on a two-game winning streak. Akron went 28-7 (17-1 MAC) last year. Head coach John Groce is in his ninth season with the Zips. Heading into the 2025-26 season, Akron was selected to finish first overall in the 2025-26 MAC Preseason Men's Basketball Poll. Senior guard Tavari Johnson was selected to the Preseason First Team All-MAC, while senior wing Evan Mahaffey and graduate student guard Shammah Scott were both named Second Team All-MAC.
Johnson leads the Zips in points (20.5/game) and assists (5.1/game). Senior forward Amani Lyles has totaled the most rebounds (6.5/game). Mahaffey (1.7/game) and Johnson (1.4/game) lead the team in steals, while redshirt junior Chabi Barre (hasn't played since 12/13 versus Murray State), Lyles (0.7/game) and Mahaffey (0.7/game) have produced the most blocks.Â
THE SERIES WITH THE ZIPS: This Saturday's home contest against the Zips will be the 74th meeting between the two programs. Akron leads the series 33-40 all-time, as the Red and White are 23-13 when playing in Oxford against the Zips. Miami is currently on a three-game losing streak against the Zips, as the RedHawks' last victory (70-68) came at home on Jan. 27, 2024.
UP NEXT: Miami hosts Western Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.
FAMILY TIES: Evan Mahaffey is the son of former Miami University men's basketball player Jamie Mahaffey, who played for the Red and White from 1992 to 1995.Â
RANKINGS: The Miami University men's basketball team received six votes in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll on Monday, Dec. 22. The Red and White retained its highest ranking of the 2025-26 season on the Mid-Major Top 25® Poll, as Collegeinsider announced that the RedHawks ranked No. 3 overall on Monday, Dec. 29. The RedHawks are just one of six teams that are still undefeated at the Division I level (Arizona, Iowa State, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska and Vanderbilt).
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: With Miami's most recent win at home over Milligan (135-81), the Red and White extended its home win streak to 22 games. The RedHawks are closing in on the record of 23 straight home wins (1996-1998). Last season, the Red and White set a new record of 15 consecutive home wins over the course of one season.Â
RECENT ACTION: The Miami University men's basketball team held off Bowling Green for a 93-83 win at the Stroh Center on Tuesday night. Brant Byers and Peter Suder each led the RedHawks with 17 points, while Luke Skaljac (15) and Antwone Woolfolk (14) added double figures in scoring. Miami recorded 21 points off turnovers. The Red and White shot 30-of-55 (54.5%) from the field (the eighth consecutive game that Miami has shot over 50% from the field). The RedHawks also made 22-of-24 (91.7%) shots from the free-throw line (the second time this season shooting over 90% from the charity stripe).
GUARD PLAY: Senior Peter Suder (ninth in MAC/102nd nationally) and sophomore Luke Skaljac (third in MAC/29th nationally) lead the RedHawks in assist turnover ratio. Skaljac leads the team with a ratio of 3.47, while Suder holds a ratio of 2.50.Â
NEXT MAN UP: This season, seven different RedHawks have scored at least 20 or more points in a game. The RedHawks that have met this mark are Almar Atlason, Brant Byers, Eian Elmer, Evan Ipsaro, Trey Perry, Peter Suder and Kyle Waltz.
SHARPSHOOTING: The RedHawks are currently shooting 54.6% from the field, 43.9% from the three-point line and 77.8% from the free-throw line.Â
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ABOUT AKRON: Akron is currently 10-3 (1-0 MAC), as the Zips are currently on a two-game winning streak. Akron went 28-7 (17-1 MAC) last year. Head coach John Groce is in his ninth season with the Zips. Heading into the 2025-26 season, Akron was selected to finish first overall in the 2025-26 MAC Preseason Men's Basketball Poll. Senior guard Tavari Johnson was selected to the Preseason First Team All-MAC, while senior wing Evan Mahaffey and graduate student guard Shammah Scott were both named Second Team All-MAC.
Johnson leads the Zips in points (20.5/game) and assists (5.1/game). Senior forward Amani Lyles has totaled the most rebounds (6.5/game). Mahaffey (1.7/game) and Johnson (1.4/game) lead the team in steals, while redshirt junior Chabi Barre (hasn't played since 12/13 versus Murray State), Lyles (0.7/game) and Mahaffey (0.7/game) have produced the most blocks.Â
THE SERIES WITH THE ZIPS: This Saturday's home contest against the Zips will be the 74th meeting between the two programs. Akron leads the series 33-40 all-time, as the Red and White are 23-13 when playing in Oxford against the Zips. Miami is currently on a three-game losing streak against the Zips, as the RedHawks' last victory (70-68) came at home on Jan. 27, 2024.
UP NEXT: Miami hosts Western Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.
FAMILY TIES: Evan Mahaffey is the son of former Miami University men's basketball player Jamie Mahaffey, who played for the Red and White from 1992 to 1995.Â
RANKINGS: The Miami University men's basketball team received six votes in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll on Monday, Dec. 22. The Red and White retained its highest ranking of the 2025-26 season on the Mid-Major Top 25® Poll, as Collegeinsider announced that the RedHawks ranked No. 3 overall on Monday, Dec. 29. The RedHawks are just one of six teams that are still undefeated at the Division I level (Arizona, Iowa State, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska and Vanderbilt).
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: With Miami's most recent win at home over Milligan (135-81), the Red and White extended its home win streak to 22 games. The RedHawks are closing in on the record of 23 straight home wins (1996-1998). Last season, the Red and White set a new record of 15 consecutive home wins over the course of one season.Â
RECENT ACTION: The Miami University men's basketball team held off Bowling Green for a 93-83 win at the Stroh Center on Tuesday night. Brant Byers and Peter Suder each led the RedHawks with 17 points, while Luke Skaljac (15) and Antwone Woolfolk (14) added double figures in scoring. Miami recorded 21 points off turnovers. The Red and White shot 30-of-55 (54.5%) from the field (the eighth consecutive game that Miami has shot over 50% from the field). The RedHawks also made 22-of-24 (91.7%) shots from the free-throw line (the second time this season shooting over 90% from the charity stripe).
GUARD PLAY: Senior Peter Suder (ninth in MAC/102nd nationally) and sophomore Luke Skaljac (third in MAC/29th nationally) lead the RedHawks in assist turnover ratio. Skaljac leads the team with a ratio of 3.47, while Suder holds a ratio of 2.50.Â
NEXT MAN UP: This season, seven different RedHawks have scored at least 20 or more points in a game. The RedHawks that have met this mark are Almar Atlason, Brant Byers, Eian Elmer, Evan Ipsaro, Trey Perry, Peter Suder and Kyle Waltz.
SHARPSHOOTING: The RedHawks are currently shooting 54.6% from the field, 43.9% from the three-point line and 77.8% from the free-throw line.Â
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