Rain delays and muddy baseball fields may soon be a thing of the past in college baseball.

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats are among multiple top programs using turf to beat Mother Nature at her own game.

In 2014, UC's baseball fields got a full field renovation, where turf was installed in place of the field's natural grass field which changes how the game is played, and how weather impacts it.

Unlike grass, turf doesnt need much sunlight, but the biggest advantage to turf is about rain.

Watch to learn why the move to turf has been beneficial for UC:

Grass fields can turn muddy fast after heavy showers, while turf drains quickly, so games stay on schedule.

UC isnt alone in adopting turf. About two-thirds of the Big 12 teams play on turf or synthetic surfaces, mainly to avoid long weather delays and cancellations.

We have an irrigation system that drains the field rather quickly, so if we get a really, really hard rain, Id say probably 20 to 30 minutes after its done we can hop right on," Nick Engel, facilities and operations coordinator for UC, said. "If its a light rain, we can play through it a little bit more than if we were on dirt that absorbs the moisture a lot more. The turf, it kind of slides right off.

Turf doesnt just change maintenance, it changes the game. Balls move faster and take more consistent hops. UC even uses a softer infield surface designed to play more like real dirt.

"The turf quality has changed like crazy over the years," UC Baseball Head Coach Jordan Bischel said. "If you look back, you know, 30, 40 years at the Astrodome where they had AstroTurf, people said it was like playing on concrete. Balls would bounce 30 ft in the air when they landed, and now they've got enough technology with different dirt and rubber and mixes on it that it actually plays a lot like grass. You'll see it pretty similar in terms of, in terms of how the game is played."

There are some trade-offs, though. Turf can run hotter during the summer, especially in the outfield.

Engel said some areas are also prone to more wear and tear.

After each game or usage of the field, I go out here and I inspect and make sure its all level particularly in our problem areas, the batters box and the pitchers mound, Engel said.

Even though its artificial, the field still needs regular upkeep to stay consistent and game ready.

So, while the surface may be different, the goal is still the same to play ball.

University of Cincinnati sophomore Quinton Coats was named Wednesday afternoon as a Perfect Game Midseason Collegiate All-American.

Its pretty cool, Coats told WCPO 9 Sports. Its a great honor. But, at the same time but halfway through we have a lot of season left to get where we want to be. I know I have to do a lot more. We just got to keep winning baseball games.

Coats, who hit his nation-leading 20th home run in Tuesday nights win over visiting Wright State, has earned quite the spotlight this season. He is 11 home runs away from joining the NCAA Division I all-time single-season home run leader list.

Coats, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound infielder from Olathe, Kansas, entered Tuesdays game with a .360 batting average, 38 runs, 45 hits, eight doubles, one triple and 46 runs batted in.

Coats 427-foot blast to right-center field Tuesday night put him into sole possession of fourth place among UC single-season home run leaders. Coats is ahead of Josh Kross (2024), Griffin Merritt (2022) and UC baseball great Kevin Youkilis (2000).

Coats was named a first-team hitter by the Perfect Game Midseason All-American list. His contributions to the Bearcats are significant.

Quinton has obviously been just an animal for us, leading the nation in home runs, UC coach Jordan Bischel said.

UC (21-10) has reached 20 wins the fastest time in program history, according to the UC athletic department.

UC travels to Oklahoma State on Friday for a three-game set against the Cowboys (18-11).

The Bearcats return to Greater Cincinnati next week when UC plays Miami University at Prasco Park in Mason on April 8.

Jerrod Calhoun grinned ear to ear as Bob Huggins playfully wrapped his right arm around him Wednesday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.

The new University of Cincinnati mens basketball coach braced the moment by pressing his right hand onto his red tie, balancing his notes and an Aquafina bottle with his left hand, as cameras zoomed in to capture the moment.

Suddenly, Jerrod was 22 again.

Just a little, Go get em, Huggins said later.

You can watch the moment here:

As Calhoun was introduced as the 29th head coach in UC mens basketball history, fans, media and university officials couldnt help but notice the significance of the Bearcats lineage.

Calhoun, the former Utah State coach, is a 2004 UC graduate. He started his coaching career as a student assistant under Huggins during the 2003-04 season when the Bearcats went 25-7 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Its a good feeling right now, said UC Hall of Famer Corie Blount, whose lengthy NBA career concluded in 2004. Just the fact that we have someone from our bloodline Jerrod coming back is a good feeling. I think the last time we hired a coach, a lot of guys were wondering why and what was the connection. Now, we have a connection. So everybodys excited.

Calhoun never forgot what the Fifth Third Arena atmosphere was like during Huggins' time as the UC coach. The Northeast Ohio native said he's grateful to have started his college coaching career with the Bearcats.

"It started at Cincinnati, learning from Coach Huggins, I think the best college basketball coach of all time," Calhoun said.

Later, Calhoun was an assistant coach at Walsh University in Stark County from 2004-07.

After that, he reconnected with Huggins at West Virginia. The two met at a Burger King in Youngstown to discuss Calhoun's position on the Mountaineers' staff.

"He said, 'Do you want a job?'" Calhoun said. "I said, 'Sure, Huggs, I'd love to work with you again.'"

Calhoun spent five years on Huggins staff at West Virginia from 2007-12, including four as director of operations and the final season as assistant coach. The Mountaineers went 120-36 with five NCAA Tournament appearances including the 2010 Final Four and 2008 Sweet 16 in his five seasons.

He was in my office pretty much every day, Huggins said. He studies film. Hes just done a great job all the way around. He goes and finds players. Thats hard to do, really. Its much harder than what a lot of people think it is.

When UC parted ways with former head coach Wes Miller earlier this month, Huggins knew Calhoun would be at the forefront of consideration.

I knew he was the guy, Huggins said. This is perfect for him. Hes an Ohio guy.

After West Virginia, Calhoun, 44, became a successful head coach at Fairmont State, Youngstown State and Utah State. He said he's grateful for the impact that the 72-year-old Huggins a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer has made on his life.

Its been a while since Ive seen Huggs, Calhoun told WCPO 9 Sports. He gave me my start in collegiate coaching. He just said hes proud. I think youll see more and more of him around the program. Hes a big part of the chapters of this storied program.

Next season, Calhoun will be tasked with trying to earn the Bearcats an NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since 2019.

Calhoun was peppered with questions in the news conference and one-on-one interviews.

Im not an ego guy," Calhoun said. "I dont need this attention. I understand its a big obligation, the head coach of the University of Cincinnati in basketball. People really care. What Im looking forward to is getting to work going into the office, taking this suit off and meeting with our players getting on the basketball court.

Huggins said he believes Calhoun is the correct hire for the Bearcats.

Hes a good coach, said Huggins. Ive been around him for a long, long time. He understands thats important, but I think hes a guy who tries to learn everything that he can learn. Ive spent a lot of time with him. A lot of guys have spent a lot of time with him because he wants to be one of the good ones. He may end up being one of the great ones.

University of Cincinnati sophomore infielder Quinton Coats was named Perfect Games National Player of the Week on Tuesday.

The honor arrived one day after Coats received the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week award, his second of the season.

Coats has two national player of the week honors this season. He has also been named to Baseball Americas national team of the week each of the last three weeks.

Coats had another outstanding week for the Bearcats, hitting .450 with four home runs and nine RBI to help UC go 4-1 and capture its first Big 12 series win of the year. He hit three home runs in game two vs. Utah, tying the single-game school record for homers in a game.

Coats hit a home run to center Tuesday at Xavier giving him 19 home runs this season, four more than anyone else in the country.

Entering Tuesday, Coats is hitting .376 with 18 home runs, 45 RBI, 35 runs scored, 17 walks and a .954 slugging percentage. He ranks tied for sixth all-time in school history for home runs in a single season, just four away from tying record-holder Mike Spina (23, 2009).

Tuesdays game is part of the annual Joe Nuxhall Classic, which features matchups between local opponents UC, Miami University, Wright State and Xavier. The Joe Nuxhall Classic will conclude at Prasco Park in Mason next month.

The game is also UCs first as a nationally-ranked program in 2026. UC slotted in at No. 25 in Baseball Americas Top 25 poll on Monday, having gone 4-1 last week to bring its overall record this season to 19-7.

Tuesday marks another game in the long, storied history of the Cincinnati-Xavier rivalry. The crosstown rivals have met 173 times before and Cincinnati owns a 103-68-2 record all-time in the series.

The University of Cincinnati has found its next men's basketball coach.

After firing Wes Miller earlier this month, UC quickly nabbed Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun to take over the program.

Calhoun's deal is a 6-year contract. UC will pay him $3.7 million in the first year, with an annual raise of $100,000.

"Jerrod is a tireless worker, has an incredible passion and talent for developing not just players, but people, and has won at every stop along the way," UC athletic director John Cunningham said in a release announcing the hire. "Hes one of the best offensive minds in college basketball and has the pedigree to take Cincinnati basketball to the next level in the Big 12 and nationally."

Calhoun, 44, is an Ohio native who graduated from Cincinnati after working as a student assistant under former coach Bob Huggins for the 2003-04 season. Huggins whom Calhoun called the best practice coach ever was in the audience for Calhoun's introductory press conference.

"It is a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Bearcats program one that I know intimately as an alum and hold in the highest regard," Calhoun said in the release. "I am deeply grateful to John Cunningham and President Neville Pinto for their trust and confidence in me to elevate this program and guide our student-athletes as we pursue championships. Our goal is to build a program that consistently makes Bearcats fans proud, both on and off the court. Sarah, our children and I are excited to get to work at a place that means so much to our family."

Following his graduation, Calhoun was an assistant at Walsh University before rejoining Huggins as an assistant at West Virginia. He then served as head coach at Fairmont State, where he led the Fighting Falcons to an NCAA Division II championship game appearance, and Youngstown State, before joining Utah State in 2024.

In both seasons at Utah State, Calhoun's Aggies have made it to the big dance, losing in the first round in 2025 and the second round in 2026.

Calhoun's arrival comes as the Bearcats look to return to glory after Miller's disappointing tenure. Despite a storied history that includes six Final Four appearances and two national titles, the men's basketball program hasn't been to the tourney since 2019. During Miller's five seasons with the team, UC has appeared in the NIT twice.

The move will be a big leap for Calhoun, who has never coached a Power 4 team. The Bearcats will have to face top teams like Arizona, Houston and Iowa State who all made this year's Sweet 16 to make the tournament.

With 13:37 left in the second half of Miami's game against SMU, the Redhawks were clinging to a one-point lead and in need of a spark.

As SMU's Corey Washington stepped to the line for a pair of free throws, Miami got exactly what they needed in the most unusual way.

Nearly 30 members of the university's swim team, wearing nothing but Speedos, stormed the aisle behind the basket. The chaos led to an eruption in the arena and a missed free throw.

Washington made his second free throw to tie the game, but Miami never looked back. Immediately after the set of free throws, Miami went on a 13-0 run and led the rest of the night.

WATCH: Miami's swim team helps fire up the crowd in Dayton by stripping down to Speedos

The moment went viral on social media and garnered appreciation from Miami players and coaches.

He missed a free throw, didnt he?" head coach Travis Steele said. "We appreciate their support, man, what an awesome deal.

We caught up with some of the members of the swim team on Thursday.

Just like running down there, you could hear the crowd erupt, and I just feel like it changed the energy of the fans," freshman Luke Pugh said.

Junior Tegan Barrier said the heroes in Speedos were initially stopped by arena workers, but eventually got their chance.

We talked to the arena manager, and he said, You get to do this one time, and were like, OK, well do it once, and well get out of there,'" Barrier said.

That was not the first time the swim team has done this.

It's a tradition they started earlier this year. During home games, when the visiting team shoots free throws in the second half, the shirts come off and the Speedos come out.

"By no means did we create this, but we are definitely popularizing the tradition," sophomore Owen Hoban said.

The swimmers said that because Miami is a small school, the athletic teams are all pretty close.

Just because were a small school and were not SEC or ACC, doesnt mean we cant pack a punch," Hoban said.

They said putting on the Speedos and bringing the energy to the crowd is their way of showing it's Miami against the world.

"Thats the goal of why we do this, to get Miami out there," Barrier said.

The swim team has had a lot of success of its own. They were MAC champions in 2019 and from 2021 through 2024.

"For a sport that doesn't get a ton of attention normally, it's super cool for us to just kind of see that people kind of appreciate us and what we're doing," freshman Liam Quigley said.

"Everybody sees that our team is supporting, and I just think that's going to bring more energy to the swimming pool next year," Hoban said.

As the basketball team continues its run, Miami's swimmers said they're confident this year will be one to remember.

This is what March Madness is about," Quigley said. "Its about the underdog, the little guy, going in and winning a bunch of games.

Eian Elmer scored 23 points and Miami (Ohio) beat SMU 89-79 on Wednesday night in the First Four for its first NCAA Tournament victory in 27 years.

Elmer went 6 of 9 from 3-point range as the 11th-seeded RedHawks (32-1), undefeated during the regular season, advanced in the Midwest Region to play No. 6 seed Tennessee.

Brant Byers added 19 points, including four 3s, and Luke Skaljac had 17 points for Miami, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007. The RedHawks finished 16 of 41 from 3-point range.

The message I gave our guys before the game was they should leave no doubt with who the more attacking team was, Miami (Ohio) coach Travis Steele said. I thought that was very evident from the jump ball all the way to the end of the game."

Jaden Toombs led SMU (20-14) with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 18 points and Boopie Miller had 15 for the Mustangs, who reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years. They're still looking for their first victory in the event since 1988.

Miami went 31-0 during a captivating regular season the only Division I team to go unbeaten in 2025-26 and just the nation's eighth undefeated regular season in the past 50 years.

But the RedHawks lost their MAC Tournament opener to UMass, putting their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy because of a schedule that ranked 339th in overall strength and featured no Quadrant 1 games.

Some analysts and critics questioned whether they belonged in the field with an at-large bid, but Miami silenced some skeptics Wednesday with a rousing victory over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent.

Were not really focused on proving whether we belong, honestly, Elmer said. Everybody in the locker room thinks we do. I just think if anything were just going to go out there, play our hardest and have fun.

Elmer had 14 points and went 4 of 6 from 3-point range in the first half. Byers hit back-to-back 3s to give Miami an 11-point lead.

They put five guys on the court that can shoot the 3, so theyre hard to guard, SMU coach Andy Enfield said. We outscored them in the paint 46-20 tonight, which was our game plan to really try to score the ball in the lane.

SMU missed its first seven 3-point attempts before Pierre connected with 7:02 remaining in the first half. The Mustangs went 5 of 19 from long distance.

Almar Atlason hit a pair of 3s to give the RedHawks a 63-50 advantage early in the second half. He scored 12 points.

Skaljacs transition 3 extended Miamis lead to 71-57.

SMU had a size advantage, but foul trouble negated some of that. Mustangs 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu fouled out with 1:31 remaining. He finished with eight points and six rebounds.

The undersized RedHawks matched SMU with 35 rebounds and 17 second-chance points.

Listen, our group is uber-confident, Steele said. We know we belong. I told our guys afterwards, man, Im happy, but the job is not finished. We want to continue to advance in this thing.

Peter Suder had the assist of the night when he gathered an outlet pass from Skaljac and bounced a pass across the paint to Elmer, who caught it and scored with one hand to put the RedHawks ahead 20-13.

Thats like some March magic, Skaljac said.

Suder had six assists, but that one caught Elmer by surprise.

I was expecting a lob, he said. Peter was running full speed so I was just trailing. He made an amazing pass, and I got lucky, honestly.

Steele hopes the RedHawks' victory will earn more respect for mid-major programs.

I mean, we had to basically be perfect in the whole regular season to get an at-large, he said. There's a lot of good teams. Those teams can compete with anybody, but they dont get the opportunities in the regular season to put them in a position to where they can get an at-large bid."

With the First Four in Dayton, fewer than 50 miles from Miami's campus, the crowd was decidedly in the RedHawks' favor.

Home game for Miami, Enfield said. They probably had 12,000 fans here, it felt like. So they were loud and they fed off the energy.

Miami (Ohio) plays Tennessee on Friday in Philadelphia.

University of Cincinnati sophomore Quinton Coats hit his NCAA Division I-leading 15

home run of the season as the Bearcats defeated Utah Valley 6-3 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday.

Coats homered in the top of the eighth inning to add to UCs lead.

"The best thing about Quinton right now is the consistency in his approach," UC baseball coach Jordan Bischel said. "He doesnt change game to game or at-bat to at-bat. It will be almost impossible to sustain the numbers hes putting up, but if he remains consistent in his process he will continue to be one of the most dangerous hitters in the country.

The Bearcats trailed for much of the game Tuesday but the bats woke up in the seventh. Thats when UCs extra-base hits brought in four runs and gave the Bearcats their first lead of the day.

Coats, a 2025 Big 12 All-Freshman Team member from Olathe, Kansas, hit a two-out solo shot in the eighth to give UC a 6-3 lead.

Coats leads NCAA Division I in home runs this season, according to the UC athletic department. He was tied with Georgias Daniel Jackson entering Tuesdays game. His 15 homers tied for eighth-most in a season in program history. Coats has hit more home runs than any UC player had last season.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Tyranski also homered for the Bearcats on Tuesday. He hit his second home run in as many days.

Junior Carson Marsh earned the win, improving to 4-1 on the year, thanks to his scoreless outing of 1.2 innings. Junior Dominic Mauro earned his third save of the year, striking out two over the final two frames. Mauros season earned-run average dropped to 1.08.

UC (17-6) returns home this weekend to host Utah, the first Big 12 Conference home series of the year.

Miami University junior wing Eian Elmer walked into University of Dayton Arena on Tuesday and was reminded of why the venue has a special place in his heart.

The RedHawks havent played a game inside UD Arena since Dec. 22, 2015.

And yet for Elmer, a 2022 Taft High School graduate, its only been four years since hes played a game in UDs venue.

Elmer was a significant member of the 2022 Division III state championship team at Taft. In fact, Miami is using the same locker room as when Elmer played at Taft.

Its a great feeling to be back here, Elmer said.

Elmer, who averages 12.6 points, 6 rebounds and 1.2 assists, is a key member of a Miami team that is preparing for the NCAA Tournaments First Four Wednesday night.

Miami (31-1) plays Southern Methodist University (20-13) at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday. The winner of the No. 11 seed battle travels to Philadelphia to play sixth-seeded Tennessee in a Midwest Region first-round game at 4:25 p.m. Friday.

Miami has earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007. The RedHawks are the second Mid-American Conference team to earn an at-large bid since Miami accomplished that in 1999 when Wally Szczerbiak led the team to the Sweet 16.

And while Miami has a 31-game home win streak at Millett Hall going back to November 2024, the RedHawks hope to carry that home-court advantage about an hour away in Dayton.

What a unique opportunity for our fans, Miami coach Travis Steele said. Its a drivable distance. Whether its here or you are from Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus. To be able to watch Miami play in the NCAA Tournament, it doesnt get much better. I expect this to be a home game for us in a lot of ways.

Miami fans were on hand for the RedHawks open practice Tuesday afternoon. There was a palpable energy among the players and coaches during the session.

Its valuable for us being only 50 minutes or an hour away from campus, said senior guard Peter Suder, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. Were excited to see what the environment is going to be like. Were super fortunate to play here for sure.

The players noticed the March Madness logo on the UD Arena floor and knew the moment had arrived as they entered the venue.

Its definitely no Millett Hall, redshirt sophomore wing Brant Byers said. But the fan atmosphere should be pretty similar.

The RedHawks will utilize that support against a SMU team which is physical and has excellent guard play this season. Miami is counting on its crowd to help throughout the game.

When I saw the draw, its what immediately popped into my mind, Steele said. Man, this is pretty cool. So hopefully our fan base will take advantage of that, show up and show out tomorrow night.

After a disappointing season, the University of Cincinnati has parted ways with men's basketball coach Wes Miller, according to multiple reports.

The Bearcats (18-15) lost to UCF in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament Wednesday, likely destroying their chance at squeezing into the NCAA Tournament.

UC Director of Athletics John Cunningham made the official announcement Thursday.

I want to thank Wes Miller for all of his hard work and the passion he brought to his job every single day, Cunningham said. We are excited about the next chapter of Cincinnati basketball.

The university said UC and Miller reached a separation agreement effective immediately.

Despite a storied history that includes six Final Four appearances and two national titles, the men's basketball program hasn't been to the tourney since 2019. In Miller's five seasons with the team, UC has been to the NIT twice.

Miller dealt with a lot of frustration from fans throughout the season as the Bearcats would upset top teams like Iowa State or Kansas, only to lose to other middling teams in and out of conference.

After one January loss to West Virginia, Miller appeared to respond to fans while speaking with play-by-play announcer Dan Hoard.

"We get to come out and play basketball. I don't care about the noise, Dan. I don't care," Miller said in the interview on 700WLW. "I don't care what people think. I only care about my team. And I care about my program. And you know what, it's almost comical. We'll get a break. ... Everybody can quit on us. Everybody. I hear it ... Go ahead. Us against the world."

In February, a video of Miller telling fans that they "deserve to be frustrated" went viral. He told us that he wanted people to understand "I'm not OK either."

According to UC Athletics, a national search is now underway for the next Bearcats coach who can lead the team in a tough conference filled with contenders.

Travis Steele went 31 games and 363 days before addressing a losing locker room.

Now, the Miami (Ohio) coach and his squad must wait an excruciating three days before finding out if they've made the NCAA Tournament.

The 20th-ranked RedHawks became the last mens Division I program to fall from the unbeaten ranks on Thursday as UMass rallied in the second half for an 87-83 victory in the Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

It was a little bit of shell shock. We hate to lose, and our guys put a lot into it. So does UMass, Steele said. Not a lot was said. I think sometimes youve got to get the emotion out of you first before directing your team. So well do that when we get back to the hotel.

Miami was the fifth team this century to go undefeated in the regular season and the first since Gonzaga in 2020-21. The RedHawks join Saint Josephs which lost to Xavier in the 2004 Atlantic 10 quarterfinals as teams whose unbeaten run ended in their conference tournament.

That Saint Joe's team didnt have to worry about its March Madness fate. Led by Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, the Hawks were the top-ranked team in the country at the end of the regular season and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Miamis road is more precarious. Its strength of schedule ranks 344th out of 365 Division I teams, according to the NCAA Evaluation Tool.

The RedHawks faced no Tier 1 teams and were 2-0 against Tier 2 squads.

Undefeated means something, and so my hope is that they would make it, said Grant Hill, who will call the NCAA Tournament and the Final Four for CBS and TNT Sports. Theyve got a chip on their shoulder. I think to see them get into the tournament, they want to prove themselves against some of the bigger teams.

The last time the MAC got two bids was 1999. Miami got the at-large bid that year after losing to Kent State in the tournament final and advanced to the Sweet 16.

UMass coach Frank Martin who led South Carolina to the Final Four in 2017 echoed many in saying that Miami deserves a tournament bid.

Itd be an embarrassment. A complete embarrassment if this league doesnt get two teams in, Martin said.

Steele, who was still reeling from the loss, wasnt in the mood to hear about the MAC possibly having two teams in the field.

I couldnt care less about the MAC getting multi bids, just to be quite frank. I know the MAC probably wanted that, he said. Its more about just putting ourselves in the best position, which I think weve done. Our guys have earned the right, in my opinion, to play the NCAA Tournament."

Im not letting anybody take (over) my mind. Im not going to waste one second," Steele said. "When youve been fired before (at Xavier), you dont care anymore. You dont care what people think. You dont have to be politically correct all that stuff, guys. Im just telling you, Im going to live life the way I live it unapologetically.

Miami senior Peter Suder, the MAC Player of the Year, said his teams resume speaks for itself.

I think we proved during the regular season that we earned a spot, but I can just control what I can control, he said. Were going to still get better every day and stay consistent with what we do. So were going to learn from this and face the next challenge in whatevers in front of us.

The last team to go through the regular season unbeaten and not make the NCAA Tournament was Alcorn State in 1978-79. That was because the Southwest Athletic Conference was in a transition period to Division I and did not have an automatic bid.

Even after Thursdays loss, many bracketologists still have the RedHawks in the field. ESPNs Joe Lunardi has Miami supplanting Auburn, while Fox Sports Mike DeCourcy also has them in.

Neither project the RedHawks going to Dayton for the First Four.

Its a legendary accomplishment and one game today doesnt change that in my mind, Miami athletic director David Sayler said. I believe the committee will get it, and certainly anyone who played the game and knows what the grind of a season is like, going undefeated in league play, they get it as well.

The win over Miami was UMass first in the MAC Tournament. The Minutemen are in their first season in the conference after 43 years in the Atlantic 10.

Eian Elmers 3-pointer gave Miami a 69-58 advantage with 8:33 remaining, but the Minutemen rallied and tied it at 71-all with 5:33 remaining.

The key to UMass victory was controlling the boards. The Minutemen outrebounded the RedHawks 41-24 and had 23 second-chance points off 17 offensive boards.

Martin said he was more nervous coming into Thursdays game than at any point during his 20 years as a head coach. He hopes UMass can match Xaviers run. After beating Saint Josephs, the Musketeers went on to win the tournament.

Martin was emotional reflecting on the game, and said after a long pause, I feel bad for Miami, but Im happy for our guys.

Jamichael Stillwell had 17 points and 15 rebounds, Riley Kugel added 15 points, and eighth-seeded UCF rallied to beat ninth-seeded Cincinnati 66-65 in overtime on Wednesday and advance to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

John Bol scored 13 points for the Knights (21-10), who trailed by as many as 12 in regulation, then watched as the Bearcats' Jalen Celestine missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left in overtime to earn a date with top-ranked Arizona on Thursday.

Moustapha Thiam had 18 points and 16 boards to lead the Bearcats (18-15). Day Day Thomas had all of their seven points in overtime and finished with 15, while Celestine had 11 points and Keyshuan Tillery finished with 10.

The Knights won despite going 3 of 24 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Cincinnati had taken control with about 10 minutes to go, when Thomas was fouled by Kugel about 30 feet from the basket and the shot-clock running out. His two free throws gave the Bearcats a 46-37 lead, and Stillwell immediately picked up his fourth foul at the other end, sending the Knights' best rebounder to the bench.

UCF still faced a 58-50 hole with about two minutes to go when Stillwell hit a soft jumper in the lane. Cincinnati proceeded to turn the ball over on three straight possessions, and Kugel's driving layup tied the game 58-all with a minute to go.

The Bearcats had the final shot of regulation, but Thiam didn't appear to realize the clock was about to expire. Cincinnati coach Wes Miller frantically called timeout from the bench, but there was only 0.8 seconds left time enough for an airballed 3-point try.

The Knights lost their only game to the top-seeded Wildcats in mid-January.

Cincinnati must hope a first-round win over Utah in the Big 12 tourney will get it off the NCAA Tournament bubble on Sunday.

The Miami RedHawks finished the regular season as the only unbeaten team in Division I men's basketball, with Eian Elmer scoring a career-high 32 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a gritty 110-108 overtime victory over Ohio on Friday night.

Peter Suder scored five of his 13 points in overtime for Miami (31-0, 18-0 Mid-American), which became the first team to complete an unblemished regular season since Gonzaga in 2021.

Trey Perry added 21 points and Brant Byers scored 15 for the RedHawks, who topped Akron for the league title.

Despite its magical season, Miami might need to win the conference tournament next week to guarantee a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio (15-16, 9-9) with a career-high 37 points. Javan Simmons scored 30 and Aidan Hadaway added 20. The Bobcats lost three straight to end the regular season.

Miami had a bumpy stretch over its previous dozen games with four one-possession wins and two others that went to overtime. This time, the RedHawks needed some late heroics again to win in Athens for the first time in 15 years.

Simmons basket off a missed shot by teammate Kirr Kuany gave Ohio a 108-107 lead with 26 seconds left in OT. Suder sank two free throws to put Miami ahead and Justin Kirby made another for the final margin. Paveletzke missed two shots in the final 5 seconds that could have given Ohio the lead, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Miami is the top seed in the conference tournament and will play in the opening game of the quarterfinals Thursday in Cleveland. Ohio's seeding will be determined after the completion of league games this weekend.

Harrison High School graduate Chloe Dearwester has an opportunity for an NCAA national championship this weekend in Iowa.

The NCAA Womens Wrestling Championship is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. It will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Dearwester, a Presbyterian College (Clinton, S.C.) sophomore, is the No. 6 seed at 110 pounds. Dearwester, who has a 21-2 record this season, competes against Felician Universitys Theresa Zeppetelli (17-8) in the first round Friday morning.

Dearwester has wins by pins over some higher-seeded wrestlers in the NCAA bracket, according to Harrison girls wrestling coach Chris Baird.

I love Chloes chances to find her way on the podium, Baird said. Id never bet against her. She has an incredible work ethic and is one of the most driven and competitive athletes I have ever been around.

Dearwester won an NCAA Southeast Region Championship at 110 pounds Feb. 21 in Franklin Springs, Ga.

She has Presbyterian Colleges best win percentage this season with a 21-2 personal record. She was one of four individuals to win region titles for the Blue Hose.

The Presbyterian wrestling website said in late February that Dearwester is ranked fifth in the nation for her weight class and will be a favorite for a national championship.

As a freshman in 2024-25, Dearwester began her collegiate career with a 19-0 record and three tournament championships. She became one of 14 national qualifiers for the Blue Hose part of a school record and won her first two matches at the NCAA tournament. She helped Presbyterian to a sixth-place finish as a team.

Presbyterian College, an NCAA Division I program, is seeking its fourth consecutive top 10 finish at nationals.

Womens collegiate wrestling is competing as an official NCAA sport for the first time.

This is a landmark moment for the fastest-growing high school sport in the country for girls, NCAA.com wrote.

The Divisions I, II and III will all compete for the same spots at the NCAA tournament. That will change in 2028 when Division III schools will be classified in their own division.

Dearwester, a 2024 Harrison graduate, won four consecutive high school state championships in Ohio.

Chloe is still very important to Harrison, Baird said. She is a small-town girl from a humble, blue-collar family. Her sister, Rylee, as well as several other members of our high school team, got their start wrestling for Chloes dad, Rob Dearwester, in our Athena Girls Wrestling club. She has served as a great role model and inspiration to our girls as they continue chasing their own dreams. They all follow her results and accomplishments and often credit training with her for their continued successes.

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Trey Perry scored on a driving layup with a second remaining and No. 21 Miami of Ohio rallied to beat Western Michigan 69-67 on Friday night to extend its season-opening winning streak to 29 games.

The RedHawks (16-0 Mid-American Conference) remain the only undefeated team in Division I mens basketball. Miami extended the best start in program history and added to its school record for wins in a season. Miami also boasts the best start and longest win streak in MAC annals.

Peter Suder scored 18 points for the RedHawks before fouling out with just over seven minutes remaining. Almar Atlason added 16 points, Perry finished with 14 and Eian Elmer 10.

Jayden Brewer led Western Michigan (10-19, 4-12) with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Justice Williams and EJ Ryans each added 14 points.

Miami is used to playing close games and won for the seventh time this season by less than six points.

The RedHawks trailed by four points, 30-26, at the half and fell behind by eight points twice early in the second half before tying the game at 49-all with 11:02 remaining.

Western Michigan ran off eight straight points for a 57-49 advantage with 8:40 remaining and led by nine (59-50) with 6:38 left before Michigan chipped away and moved ahead 66-65 on a layup by Antwone Woolfolk with 14 seconds left.

Elmer's free throw with 37 seconds remaining gave the RedHawks a 67-65 edge, but Western Michigan tied it with 11 seconds left on a basket by Williams before Perry made the game winner.

The RedHawks return home to host Toledo Thursday.

The University of Cincinnati has filed a lawsuit against former Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby, claiming he breached his NIL contract and refuses to pay the university back.

According to the lawsuit, filed Tuesday, Sorsby signed an 18-month, two-season NIL agreement with UC in July 2025. That "multi-million-dollar agreement" allowed the school to use Sorsby's NIL in promotional materials and activities, and elevated Sorsby as a representative of the university.

UC claims that Sorsby agreed that if he did not fulfill the whole term of the NIL agreement, for example transferring to another school before the 2026 season, he would pay the university $1 million in liquidated damages for breach of contract.

Five months after signing his contract with UC, Sorsby announced his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal, later committing to Texas Tech and signing another NIL deal reportedly worth between $4-6 million.

The university said Sorsby's new deal "took into consideration (his) contractual obligation" to pay UC back. However, UC claims he has still not paid the university the $1 million in liquidated damages the two sides agreed upon.

According to the lawsuit, UC tried to contact Sorsby's representative to determine whether or when he would pay back the money owed, but the school was told "Sorsby refuses to pay the university anything."

"Sorsby has benefited greatly by the NIL agreement he entered into with the University, along with the Universitys sustained efforts to promote him and help establish him as a top collegiate quarterback," UC says in its lawsuit. "Now, the University seeks to enforce its rights under that same agreement and to recover the amount Sorsby is contractually obligated to pay."

We reached out to Cincinnati Athletics, which said in a statement that it "is proud to partner with its student-athletes and honors the contractual commitments it makes to them. We expect student-athletes and their representatives to do the same."

"Cincinnati Athletics intends to enforce that contractual commitment. As stewards of the universitys resources, the Athletics Department has a duty to do so," the statement also says. "We thank Brendan for his time at Cincinnati and wish him success in the future."

In the lawsuit, the university requests a jury trial for its recovery of damages.

The University of Cincinnati versus Miami University football game this upcoming season is expected to be played at TQL Stadium, according to a source with knowledge of the plans.

The official announcement had not happened as of the 9 a.m. Monday morning. Currently, UC's football schedule says UC is scheduled to play Miami University Sept. 19 at a neutral site.

The UC-Miami neutral site game, including ticket information, will be announced at a later time, according to the UC schedule.

The return of the Battle for the Victory Bell occurs during the Bearcats third game.

UC kicks off the season by hosting Boston College Sept. 5 at Nippert Stadium before welcoming Western Carolina on Sept. 12.

UC (7-6 record in 2025) announced its season schedule Jan. 21.

Miami (7-7 record in the 2025 season) has not announced its season schedule yet.

The most recent meeting between the programs occurred Sept. 14, 2024 when UC defeated host Miami 27-16 at Yager Stadium.

The series began on Dec. 8, 1888, according to a 2024 WCPO 9 story. UC leads the all-time series, 61-60. The series also has seven ties.

TQL Stadium, home of FC Cincinnati, was built in 2021.

Moustapha Thiam had a career-high 28 points and led Cincinnati to an 84-68 upset of No. 8 Kansas on Saturday.

This was the second win of the season for Cincinnati (15-12, 7-7 Big 12) against a ranked team, having taken down then-No. 2 Iowa State 79-70 on Jan. 17.

The 7-footer Thiam made 11 of 17 shots from the field and had eight rebounds. Baba Miller added 18 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Jalen Celeste had 14 points and eight rebounds, shooting 4 of 8 on 3-pointers. Day Day Thomas scored 10.

Cincinnati held a 36-34 lead after a tumultuous first half that saw nine ties and 10 lead changes. The Bearcats kept the Jayhawks (20-7, 10-4) at arms length with timely shots to kill momentum throughout the second, only allowing Kansas to pull ahead for one possession before retaking the lead.

They delivered the final blows with a 20-8 run, surging ahead by double digits for the first time with less than five minutes to go.

The Bearcats were particularly effective from behind the 3-point line, where they made 12 of 21 attempts.

The Jayhawks were 4 of 18 on 3s.

Flory Bidunga led the Jayhawks with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman star Darryn Peterson had 17 points in 32 minutes after leaving Kansas last game against Oklahoma State early in the second half. Tre White scored 11.

Kansas: Hosts No. 2 Houston on Monday.

Cincinnati: Visits No. 13 Texas Tech on Tuesday.

Luke Skaljac scored a career-high 22 points, Eian Elmer had 21 and No. 22 Miami University remained the lone unbeaten team in Division I with a 91-77 victory over Bowling Green on Friday night.

The RedHawks (27-0, 14-0 Mid-American Conference) got 10 points each from Peter Suder and Antwone Woolfolk to help extend their home winning streak to 30, tying Duke for the nation's longest.

Javontae Campbell led Bowling Green (16-12, 7-8) with 24 points. Josiah Shackelford and Mayar Wol each had 12.

Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett was among the sellout crowd 10,127 at Millett Hall.

The RedHawks have had some close calls during their record streak with six games decided by five or fewer points and three overtime wins. Bowling Green kept Friday's game relatively close for a while.

Bowling Green led 21-19 in the first half, but the RedHawks responded with a 10-0 run.

Skaljac scored 16 of his points in the first half and went 3 of 5 from three-point range helping Miami build a 45-30 halftime lead.

Miami led by 18 points early in the second half, but Wol's 3-pointer got the Falcons within eight with 13:06 left. The RedHawks committed 12 turnovers helping the Falcons keep it close.

Skaljac's fifth 3-pointer increased Miami's lead to 66-51 with nine minutes left. His previous career-best for points was 19 at Buffalo on Feb. 3.

Elmer hit back to back 3-pointers to make it 85-64 with 2:56 left. Elmer made 5 of 8 3-point attempts. The RedHawks went 13 of 30 from 3-point range.

It was the 155th meeting between the two schools. Miami leads the series 94-61, including a 93-83 win on Dec. 30.

Miami hits the road to face Eastern Michigan Tuesday night.

Moustapha Thiam had 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, Day Day Thomas scored 16 points and Cincinnati beat Utah 69-65 on Sunday to extend the Utes skid to seven consecutive games.

Thiam, a 7-foot-2 sophomore, had his fifth career double-double and his third this season.

Baba Miller had 13 points and eight rebounds for Cincinnati (14-12, 6-7 Big 12) and Keyshuan Tillery scored 10 points. The Bearcats have won three straight for the first time since they started the season 4-0.

Keanu Dawes made a spinning fadeaway in the lane that gave the Utes a five-point lead with 1:56 to play. Thomas answered with a jumper before Miller hit two free throws and then threw down a two-hand dunk that gave Cincinnati a 66-65 lead with 40 seconds left.

Don McHenry led Utah (9-17, 1-11) with 18 points and Dawes had 16 points and 14 rebounds, his eighth double-double this season. Terrence Brown added 11 points and Seydou Traore 10. Dawes, a 6-9 junior, is averaging 15.8 points and 10.2 rebounds over the last six games.

The Utes have lost 12 of their last 13 overall and 15 straight on the road tied with Binghamton and Gardner-Webb for the fifth-longest active streak in the nation.

Cincinnati leads the series with the Utes 5-2, 4-0 at home.

Utah: Plays Wednesday at West Virginia.

Cincinnati: Visits No. 9 Kansas on Saturday.

Brant Byers scored 21 points, Peter Suder had 20 and 23rd-ranked Miami University beat Ohio 90-74 on Friday night to remain the lone unbeaten team in Division I.

Eian Elmer added 15 points for the RedHawks (25-0, 11-0 Mid-American Conference), who tied the single-season school record for victories set last season.

Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio (13-13, 7-6) with 22 points and Javan Simmons scored 12. The Bobcats struggled on 3-pointers, making only 5 of 21 while the RedHawks were 9 of 18 from beyond the arc and 21 of 28 on free throws.

Byers, Suder and Almar Atlason had six rebounds apiece as the RedHawks had a 38-29 advantage on the boards.

Miami had a 43-35 lead at halftime before steadily pulling away. It opened the second half on a 7-2 run, including five points by Byers, who finished 13 of 16 from the foul line.

The largest lead was 83-63 with four minutes remaining.

The game was close for the first 15 minutes. The RedHawks were up 30-26 before getting some breathing room with an 11-4 run to extend their lead to 41-30 with 1:58 remaining in the first half.

Miami tied a school record for single-game home attendance with a sellout crowd of 10,640 at Millett Hall. It was the same crowd figure for the Jan. 31 game against Northern Illinois.

Ohio: Hosts Ball State on Tuesday night.

Miami: At UMass on Tuesday night.

Miami University's men's basketball team continues its historic undefeated season, preparing to host rival Ohio University in a nationally televised matchup Friday night.

The RedHawks have captured national attention with their record-breaking performance.

"This is the greatest MAC winning streak in history," said Mark Adams, national college basketball analyst for ESPN. "They're obviously the best streak in Miami history. This will be the first game on ESPN ownership since 1998."

WATCH: How the college town is preparing for the game

Adams credits the team's success to their culture and coaching staff, led by coach Travis Steele.

"It is a culture of we there's no me, there's no disease of me in that locker room, all they want to do is win and support each other and that is why they are so good," Adams said.

The basketball team's success has created excitement throughout the campus and local community. Students Daniel Uria and Isabelle Holsman will be at the game.

"I've been buying tickets like a month in advance to make sure I am at these games before they are sold out," Uria said.

Local businesses are also benefiting from the team's momentum. Skippers Pub and Top Deck have gotten creative with their game-day promotions.

"Every time they make a 3, we throw out a Skippers t-shirt at the game," said owner Thomas Amarantos.

However, Amarantos faces a unique challenge as an OU alumnus during Friday night's rivalry matchup.

"I can't tell anybody," Amarantos said. "I'm rooting for whichever team does the best and comes into Skippers Pub after."

The RedHawks are building tremendous momentum inside Millett Hall as fans hope the team can maintain their perfect record against their cross-state rivals.

Baba Miller had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Jizzle James scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, and Cincinnati beat UCF 92-72 on Sunday.

Moustapha Thiam also scored 15 points for Cincinnati (12-12, 4-7 Big 12), Jalen Celestine added 14 and Day Day Thomas 11.

The Bearcats, who went into the game shooting 41.7% from the field (worst in the Big 12 and No. 327 nationally) this season, shot a season-high 59% (33 of 56) and scored at least 90 points for just the third time this season.

Chris Johnson had 16 points and six assists and Jordan Burks also scored 16 for UCF (17-6, 6-5). Jamichael Stillwell finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, and Riley Kugel added 10 points.

The Knights made just 1 of 11 from the field to close the first half and went scoreless for the final three-plus minutes. Cincinnati scored 14 of the final 16 points, capped when Celestine made back-to-back 3-pointers that made it 40-28 at halftime.

The Bearcats opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take their biggest lead at 49-28 with 18:13 left.

Devan Cambridge and Johnson each hit from behind the arc in 20-6 run that culminated when George Beale Jr. made 3s 27 seconds apart to trim UCF's deficit to 62-56 with 9:33 left. Thiam answered with a jumper, James hit a 3 and made two free throws, and Thiam threw down a dunk that pushed the lead to 15 less than two minutes later.

UCF: Hosts West Virginia on Saturday.

Cincinnati: Plays Wednesday at Kansas State.

A perfect season could have gone sideways for No. 23 Miami after third-leading scorer Evan Ipsaro was lost with a season-ending injury.

Luke Skaljac stepped in as starting point guard for the RedHawks.

Obviously, it was devastating to have Evan go down. He was my best friend, big mentor," Skaljac said after Miami won at Marshall 90-74 on Saturday. "It shows what we are as a team, that next-man-up mentality.

I think Ive done a good job settling down, being able to run the offense, staying poised and calm throughout tough moments, especially on the road.

A sophomore, Skaljac has been one of Miamis best players since Ipsaro tore a knee ligament in a Dec. 20 game at Ball State. Skaljac is averaging 13.3 points in 11 starts in place of Ipsaro, scoring in double figures in nine of those games.

Super proud of Luke, Miami coach Travis Steele said. "Listen, I knew this was coming for him. When we recruited him, he was the best guard in the state of Ohio. It was a huge, huge get for us.

Miami (24-0) remains one of two unbeaten teams in Division I, along with No. 1 Arizona. The RedHawks' winning streak is the longest in Mid-American Conference history.

Yet staying perfect isn't at the forefront, according to Skaljac.

I wouldnt say its a goal at all," he said. "Every game were going to get teams best shots, their Super Bowl. We get it. We understand it. Were focusing day by day. Were not worried about any of that.

Miami has seen some close calls in recent weeks that included three one-possession wins. But Skaljac said, we feel like were built for it.

When times get hard, we feel like were at our best because we come together even more when the game gets closer, he said.

Miami doesn't necessarily need Skaljac to score consistently because five teammates are averaging in double figures.

What it did require was a floor leader, and he's taken that responsibility to heart with every possession. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.9 ranks 35th nationally. He scored a career-high 19 points in a win at Buffalo on Tuesday and had 12 points and seven assists Saturday against the Thundering Herd.

Luke just steps up. Thats who he is, Steele said. "You can see that confidence is continuing to rise. He plays at his own pace. Doesnt get sped up. Can score at the rim, middies, threes. Makes everybody around him better.

"Hes as good as an offensive guard as there is in our league.

A finalist for Ohios Mr. Basketball award in 2023, Skaljac didnt get any major-college offers out of high school in Brecksville, which is between Cleveland and Akron. He grew up a fanatic fan of LeBron James and attended a ton of Cavaliers games during James second stint in Cleveland a decade ago.

Favorite player ever. Favorite athlete ever, Skaljac said.

Skaljac averaged 5.4 points for Miami off the bench a year ago as a freshman and didnt get significant playing experience at point guard until after Ipsaros injury. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Skaljac admits he still has a lot of developing to do by gaining strength in the weight room and being able to finish with both of his hands at the rim.

Steele calls Skaljacs example of selfless play as our superpower.

Luke doesnt do it for Luke Skaljac, Steele said. He does it for his teammates because they love each other. A true connectivity. Not fake. Not surface relationships. Real, true relationships, and I think thats why were a good team.

The undefeated Miami University mens basketball team, which is one of only two undefeated squads nationally, is the talk of campus.

Now 23-0 going into Saturdays game against Marshall University and sharing unbeaten honors nationally with traditional hoops powerhouse Arizona University, Miamis RedHawks squad is packing overflow crowds into 10,000-seat Millett Hall each home game.

And this season-for-the-ages has students on the Oxford campus talking about its team, which has earned its first Top 25 national ranking in decades.

Game tickets are scarce this season, but the buzz around this historic team isnt.

I havent been able to get a ticket because theyre always sold out, said Miami senior Keenan Proctor, who added that past and less-successful seasons didnt come with such a problem.

People are excited and everyone is talking about the team and every game that is coming up, Proctor said.

The recent sub-freezing temperatures and snow-covered campus are adding to home-game appeal, he said.

Its especially fun with all the snow hanging around and not much to do outside, so its fun to come to basketball games and have the team to talk about. Its fun to be a RedHawk, he said.

Millett Hall is a long-standing icon on campus. Opened in 1968, its the largest sports arena in Butler County and home for many of Miamis mens and womens teams as well as concerts and events drawing millions over the decades since it was built.

School officials have proposed closing Millett and building a new arena and Arena District at the current recreational Cook Field closer to student residence halls.

Miami freshman Cameron Novak said the old arena this season is a prime attraction for students, saying, the games have been a full house here, and its been a lot of fun.

The mood on campus is buzzing, Novak said. Any time I walk by other students, I can hear them talking about the team, so its awesome for sure.

A sold-out, boisterous Millett Hall crowd is like no other place, he said.

It feels like you are at any other big school because you have a full crowd and a full student section. Everyone is really into the games and its amazing to be part of it all, Novak said.

Samantha Gregovits, a senior and a member of Miamis mens basketball social media team, said the squads growing national spotlight has transformed into a flood of online viewers, including current students, graduates and long-time fans of the schools basketball program.

Its been really fun to see the improvements in all of our viewing and engagements, Gregovits said. Its been electric this season and the boys (team) are having fun with it, so it helps us make our content fun. With all this excitement, were just trying to share the excitement around this team. Its all creating a great atmosphere here and for the team.

Brant Byers scored 21 points and No. 24 Miami (Ohio) set a Mid-American Conference record with its 22nd straight win, pulling away in the second half for an 85-61 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday.

The RedHawks (22-0, 10-0) surpassed the 2001-02 Kent State squad for the longest winning streak in conference history.

Miami and Arizona remain the lone unbeaten teams in Division I.

Miami has also won 28 straight games at Millett Hall for Division I's longest home winning streak.

Peter Suder added 19 points and Antwone Woolfolk had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

Gianni Cobb and Taj Walters paced Northern Illinois (7-14, 3-7) with 17 points apiece. The Huskies have dropped three of their last four.

The RedHawks came into the game leading the nation in field-goal percentage (53.7%) and third in 3-point percentage (40.9%), but had an off night shooting. They were 31 of 64 from the field and only 7 of 28 from beyond the arc.

Where Miami was able to win the game was on defense. It forced 17 turnovers, which led to 22 points.

The Huskies got off to a fast start and had a 26-16 lead midway through the first half. Miami steadily rallied back and was up 40-38 at halftime.

Northern Illinois had a 52-47 advantage early in the second half before Miami regained control with an 18-3 run as Woolfolk scored six points and Byers added five.

The RedHawks closed the game scoring 15 of the final 17 points.

Northern Illinois: At Georgia State on Feb. 7.

Miami (Ohio): At Buffalo on Tuesday.

Charlie Becker is not from Cincinnati, but he's as Cincinnati as it gets.

The 1991 season was one of the most successful and memorable in the history of Elder High School's football program and Charlie's dad, safety and 1992 Elder graduate Dave Becker, was one of the stars of the team.

The team reeled off a 10-0 record in the regular season a mark that was unmatched at the school until the recent 2025 season.

"Nobody could block (Dave). He was shedding blocks and making tackles for no gain," said former Elder head coach Tom Grippa, now head coach at Milford High School.

Dave Becker was named conference player of the year in 1991.

"Friday night lights down in Price Hill at The Pit was something so special that people can't appreciate it unless you had the opportunity to do it," Dave Becker said.

Dave Becker went on to play college football and professional baseball before starting a family in Cincinnati.

Eventually, he moved to Nashville, along with his wife and three children.

All three kids grew up to play sports in college.

"You always want your children to be better and have more opportunities than you," Dave Becker said.

Now Charlie, the Beckers' middle child, is a sophomore on the football team at Indiana University.

35 years after his father led Elder to that 10-0 regular season, Charlie helped Indiana win 16 games this season, capping off the season with a national championship.

"I'm just so happy and so blessed," Charlie Becker said. "I'm so happy for my teammates."

The game-deciding touchdown in the national championship game was scored by quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, is Charlie Becker's roommate.

That monumental touchdown would've never happened without the fourth-down conversion, four plays earlier.

Fernando Mendoza threw a pass to his roommate. Charlie Becker made a spectacular catch to keep the drive alive.

That Mendoza-Becker connection isn't new.

One month prior, on a similar route and throw, the two roommates helped salt away the Big Ten championship.

At the time of that catch, the announcer labeled the receiver as "Charlie B. from Nashville, Tennessee."

He's not wrong. But a closer look will show you Charlie Becker is also a west side kid.

His father said Charlie has been to The Pit and had the opportunity to see the atmosphere at an Elder football game.

"It's what you dreamt about as a kid, coming out here and making plays in the national championship," said Charlie Becker.

Now, Charlie is living out his west side dream on the national stage.

Dylan Darling hit a 3-pointer with 53.2 seconds left and Ruben Prey had a putback layup with 13 seconds left as St. Johns rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half to defeat Xavier 88-83, giving Rick Pitino his 900th victory.

Pitino is the fourth coach in Division I to reach the milestone, joining Mike Krzyzewski (1,202), Jim Boeheim (1,116) and Roy Williams (903).

The milestone victory came at the expense of his son, Richard, who is in his first season coaching the Musketeers. The elder Pitino has won four of five meetings against his son, who previously coached at Florida International, Minnesota and New Mexico.

It is also the 20th time in 23 Division I matchups the father has defeated the son.

Bryce Hopkins led St. John's (15-5, 8-1 Big East), with 18 points. Dillon Mitchell added 17 and Ian Jackson 16 for the Red Storm, who have won six straight.

Xavier's Tre Carroll had a career-high 31 points, with 18 coming in the second half. It is the third straight game with at least 29 points for Carroll.

Malik Messina-Moore scored 17 points, including 15 in the first half, and Jovan Milicevic had 14 points before fouling out for the Musketeers (11-9, 3-6)

Xavier was up 49-37 at halftime and 55-39 early in the second half before the Red Storm countered with a 16-1 flurry.

St. John's jumped out to an early 20-11 lead before Xavier shifted momentum, scoring 17 of the next 22 points to grab a 28-25 lead midway through the first half.

A layup by Zuby Ejiofor got the Red Storm within one point before the Musketeers countered with a 19-6 run. Two straight 3-pointers by Messina-Moore gave Xavier a 47-33 advantage with 2:11 remaining in the first half.

St. John's: Hosts Butler on Wednesday.

Xavier: At Seton Hall of Wednesday.

The University of Cincinnati womens basketball team earned its highest-ranked win in program history Wednesday night.

The Bearcats upset No. 11 Iowa State by the score of 71-63 at Fifth Third Arena. The UC players and coaches joyously celebrated the momentous victory on the Fifth Third Arena court after the game.

"This team is incredibly committed toward walking our journey," UC coach Katrina Merriweather said. "And no it doesn't look the way that we wanted to or we thought that it would. And again, there are disappointing days. But, we can't do anything about what is passed. All we can do is take steps forward. And that is what they're committed to doing."

UC senior guard Mya Perry scored a game-high 26 points and had three steals to lift the Bearcats.

"She's a competitor," Merriweather said about Perry. "There is no doubt that she's the toughest kid on our team. I think she is a perfect example for our six freshmen."

Freshman guard Caliyah DeVillasee scored 13 points. Junior guard Reagan Jackson (eight points) and freshman guard Dee Alexander (seven points), a former Purcell Marian star, also contributed to the Bearcats signature win this season.

Iowa State star center Audi Crooks scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds.

UC improved to 6-10 overall including 1-3 in the Big 12 Conference. Iowa State is 14-2 overall including 2-2 in the Big 12.

UC snapped a four-game losing streak on Wednesday night. The Bearcats play host to No. 17 Texas Tech at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fifth Third Arena.

Wes Miller and the Cincinnati Bearcats are feeling the pressure from fans after a disappointing start to Big 12 play.

Despite a storied history that includes six Final Four appearances and two national titles, the men's basketball program hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2019. And in Miller's fifth year with the team, the odds of making this year's tournament continue to look smaller and smaller after UC started conference play 0-2.

Both of UC's losses were close games, with Cincinnati falling Tuesday to West Virginia, 62-60. After the game, Miller appeared to respond to fan frustration while speaking with play-by-play announcer Dan Hoard.

Hoard told Miller he felt for "everybody in that locker room," but Miller quickly told Hoard, "Don't feel for us."

"We get to come out and play basketball. I don't care about the noise, Dan. I don't care," Miller said in the interview on 700WLW. "I don't care what people think. I only care about my team. And I care about my program. And you know what, it's almost comical. We'll get a break. ... Everybody can quit on us. Everybody. I hear it ... Go ahead. Us against the world."

WCPO 9 Sports anchor Marshall Kramsky spoke with Miller on Wednesday about his message to his team amid the discontentment as they look ahead to more games against top-ranked opponents.

"I think you gotta block out all the noise," Miller said. "I think everybody in our locker room has to be about the people in that locker room, coming together, and I think things can get blown out of proportion. (It's) still very early. We've got some great opportunities ahead of us. We can turn this into a great year."

Cincinnati (8-7, currently ranked No. 98 in the NET) will have the opportunity to prove itself in the coming weeks, taking on No. 25 UCF on Sunday and hosting No. 3 Iowa State at Fifth Third Arena next Saturday.

For more of our interview with Miller, watch Bearcats All-Access Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on WCPO 9.