Miami Improves to 15-0 With 76-73 Victory Over Akron

Saturday, January 3

Oxford, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Miami University

15-0,3-0MAC

Akron

10-4,1-1MAC

Akron

Miami (OH)

Photo by: Will Miklautsch

Miami Improves to 15-0 With 76-73 Victory Over Akron

1/3/2026 7:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University men's basketball team (15-0, 3-0 MAC) edged past Akron (10-4, 1-1 MAC) for a 76-73 win at Millett Hall on Saturday. Brant Byers poured in a game-high 26 points and Eian Elmer followed closely behind with 19 points of his own. Luke Skaljac and Antwone Woolfolk also added 11 points each. Tavari Johnson led the Zips with 22 points.

How it Happened:

Woolfolk opened the contest by scoring the first five points for the RedHawks after putting in a layup and three free throws to give Miami a 5-2 lead. Peter Suder found Byers for a triple plus the foul, and Skaljac added a physical layup to push the RedHawks ahead 11-7. The Zips answered by taking an 18-11 lead with 12:51 remaining in the first half.
An Elmer three-pointer and a soaring layup from Byers brought Miami right back into the fight at 20-18. The Zips looked to pull away once again at 28-20 before Elmer threw down a one-handed transition dunk and made his second three of the game to bring the crowd to its feet at 30-25. Skaljac and Woolfolk each put in a shot from behind the three-point line to trail by just one at 32-31. Byers ended the half with a pair of free throws to head into the break trailing 36-33.
Miami opened the second half by outscoring Akron 10-5 to regain the lead at 43-41 after Byers and Elmer sank a pair of deep shots. Byers went on to get fouled from the three-point line, putting in each free throw, and added a tip-in shot to hold on to the lead at 48-46. Two free throws and another three from Elmer kept the RedHawks on top at 53-51 with just over 12 minutes of action to go.
Akron went on to take the lead, but Byers and Woolfolk added two more threes to keep it close at 62-61. Down 67-63, Skaljac knocked down two free throws and a three to reclaim a 68-67 lead. Suder scored a shot off the glass on the next possession to make it a three-point game at 70-67. With the score at 71-70 in favor of the RedHawks, Akron had the opportunity to even the score but missed a free throw. The Zips came no closer, as the RedHawks went on to secure a 76-73 victory to remain undefeated.

Game Notes:

Byers made 11-of-12 (91.67%) shots from the free-throw line (most free throws made in a single game in his career).
The RedHawks made 25-of-30 (83.3%) shots from the foul line as a team.
The RedHawks recorded 15 points off turnovers.
Suder led all players with nine assists.
With today's win, the Red and White extended its home win streak to 23 games, tying the record of 23 straight home wins that was set from 1996-1998.

Up Next:
Miami hosts Western Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. inside Millett Hall.