The UMass Minutemen get another shot at the undefeated, No. 22-ranked Miami (OH) RedHawks on Tuesday night — this time, on their home court.
The teams first met on Jan. 27 in Oxford, where the RedHawks (25–0, 12–0 MAC) staged a late comeback to remain perfect — the only unbeaten team in the nation. After the Minutemen (15–11, 6–7 MAC) had Miami (OH) on the ropes in that first clash, they’ll look to deliver a knockout blow at Mullins Center in Amherst.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Miami (OH) enters as a 3.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, and the game total is set at 164.5 points.
Miami (OH) vs. UMass Preview
Miami (OH) RedHawks Preview
The RedHawks stand alone as the nation’s last remaining undefeated team — and they’re doing it in style. They lead the country in scoring at 92.6 points per game, boast the highest field-goal percentage (53.6%), and rank fifth in three-point accuracy (40.1%).
Despite playing in a mid-major conference, Miami (OH) owns KenPom’s 61st-ranked offense and operates at the 45th-fastest adjusted tempo — anything but easy to keep up with. Within the MAC, the RedHawks rank second in made threes, third in turnovers allowed, third in steals, and fourth in opponent scoring.
Sophomore guard Brant Byers leads the way with 15 points per game while shooting 41% from deep, headlining a lineup with six RedHawks averaging double figures. Junior guard Eian Elmer, who tops the team with 5.9 rebounds, erupted for a career-high 30 points in last month’s comeback against UMass.
UMass Minutemen Preview
UMass has largely hovered in the middle of the pack this season, sitting at 6–7 in the MAC with three losses in its last five games. But the Minutemen remain a formidable opponent on any given night — something that Miami (OH) learned earlier this season.
The Minutemen nearly handed the RedHawks their first and only loss of the season on Jan. 27, leading for most of the game before Miami (OH) escaped by the skin of its teeth with an 86–84 win.
Like its opponent, UMass likes to play at a rapid pace and ranks 33rd nationally in KenPom’s adjusted tempo metric. Among the 13 MAC teams, the Minutemen rank fifth in scoring and third in rebounds, though they have allowed the sixth-most opponent points per game in the conference.
Abilene Christian transfer Leonardo Bettiol leads the team with 17.6 points and 7.7 rebounds a night, and he exploded for 22 points and 16 rebounds in the first matchup with Miami (OH). Former UMBC guard Marcus Banks Jr. adds 16.9 points a night, while freshman guard Danny Carbuccia’s 6.5 assists per contest rank 16th in the nation.
Miami (OH) vs. Umass Pick, Best Bet
Tuesday’s rematch should bring adjustments on both sides, as Miami (OH) looks to avoid another nail-biter and UMass aims to finish the job on its home court.
Still, two constants remain: both teams play at a top-50 pace and can light up the scoreboard. Miami (OH) leads the nation in scoring, while UMass has shown it can pile up points — just as the RedHawks and Minutemen did when they combined for 170 points in their first meeting.
Expect more fireworks in Amherst.
