KENT, Ohio (AP) — Peter Suder scored 27 points, Eran Elmer scored 25 and No. 25 Miami University (Ohio) remained undefeated, beating Kent State 107-101 in overtime on Tuesday night before a standing-room-only crowd at the Memorial Sports and Convention Center.
Ranked first for the first time since 1999, the Redhawks had to battle back in the final minute to send the game into overtime. The Miami Heat are off to the best start in Mid-American Conference history with a 20-0 overall record and an 8-0 record.
advertise
It was also the Redhawks’ 700th MAC win.
Miami, No. 1 Arizona and No. 7 Nebraska are the only undefeated teams in Division I.
Rob Whaley Jr. had a season-high 27 points and 14 rebounds, while Cian Medley scored 23 points for the Golden Flashes (14-5, 5-2 MAC).
Kent State lost 0-13 when facing ranked games at home.
With 56.2 seconds left in the game, Cian Medley hit a three-pointer to give Kent State a 92-88 lead and Miami scored the final four points of the regular season. Medley committed a turnover with 11 seconds left, and the Redhawks tied the game on Luke Skarjak’s layup with six seconds left.
Miami scored the first six points in overtime and never trailed in overtime. Elmer made a layup, Skaliak hit a three-pointer, and the Redhawks led 97-92.
advertise
The Miami Heat led 48-34 at halftime and 52-39 early in the second half before Kent State went on a 20-7 run to tie the score. The Lightning made 8 of 10 shots in the game, including 3 three-pointers.
Whaley scored nine points in the game, including a 3-pointer that tied the game at 59 with 13:21 left.
With 9:09 left in the game, Rayvon Griffith’s fast-break dunk with Whaley’s steal and assist tied the score to 67-66, giving the Golden Flashes their first lead. It was the first of nine lead changes.
Next
Miami: Hosts UMass on Jan. 27.
Kent State: At Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
___
Get AP Top 25 poll alerts and updates all season long. Register here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
