- Matchup: Miami Redhawks vs SMU Mustangs
- Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, OH
- Broadcast: truTV
- Betting Odds: SMU favoured by 6 points
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The SMU Mustangs (20-13) will clash with the Miami Redhawks (31-1) on Wednesday in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four at UD Arena. Las Vegas sportsbooks have established SMU as 6-point favorites, with an over/under set at 164 points.
In their last outing, the Miami Redhawls suffered a narrow defeat against UMass, losing 87-83. The Redhawks committed 17 personal fouls, slightly trailing UMass, which had 18. From beyond the arc, Miami converted just 3 of 15 attempts. UMass finished the game with a free throw percentage of 77.8%, successfully making 14 of 18 shots. They pulled down 37 rebounds—15 offensive and 22 defensive—without any blocks. UMass provided 15 assists and secured 4 steals during the match. Defensively, Miami allowed UMass a shooting percentage of 52.2%, as they made 35 of 67 shots. Miami recorded 19 assists and forced 10 turnovers while achieving 5 steals. On the boards, they managed to grab 19 rebounds, with 7 offensive, and shot 72.2% from the charity stripe, hitting 13 of 18 attempts. The Redhawks finished with a field goal percentage of 48.3% (29 of 60) and made 12 of 33 three-pointers.
Brant Byers was a key contributor, scoring 17 points on 5 of 11 shooting, and logging 30 minutes on the court while grabbing 5 rebounds. He concluded the match with a shooting percentage of 45.5% but did not record any assists.
Miami boasts a remarkable season with a record of 31-1, averaging 90.7 points per game, placing them second in Division 1 scoring. They shoot 52.4% from the floor and 39.2% from three-point range (334 of 853), along with a free-throw percentage of 74.9%. The Redhawks average 35.5 rebounds per game and have accumulated 516 assists this season, ranking 72nd nationally. They turn the ball over 10.5 times per game while committing an average of 16.1 fouls.
On defense, the Redhawks force an average of 12.9 turnovers per game and draw 19.5 personal fouls from opponents. They limit opposing shooting from three-point range to 32.5% and rank 224th in Division 1 in points allowed per game (75.3). Miami’s defense permits a shooting percentage of 43.6% (869 of 1,994) while allowing an average of 33.5 rebounds per game as a unit. They rank 118th nationally in assists allowed, conceding 407 assists throughout the season.
The SMU Mustangs faced a challenging defeat against Louisville, finishing 62-58. They collected 23 defensive rebounds and 9 offensive boards, totaling 32 rebounds in the game. SMU turned the ball over 11 times but also recorded 5 steals. Louisville committed 12 personal fouls, leading to 3 free throw opportunities for SMU, who managed to convert only 1, resulting in a free throw percentage of 33.3%. From three-point range, the Mustangs struggled, hitting 9 out of 27 attempts (33.3%). Overall, they finished the game shooting 42.9% (24 of 56). SMU allowed Louisville to shoot 39.6% from the floor by permitting them to make 21 of 53 attempts. Louisville managed 23.1% from beyond the arc, netting 6 of 26 shots, and shot 70.0% from the free-throw line (14 of 20). On the boards, SMU permitted Louisville a total of 28 rebounds, including 6 offensive boards.
Jaron Pierre Jr. was a standout for the Mustangs during the contest. He scored 17 points in 39 minutes of play, shooting 60.0% by making 6 out of 10 attempts, and recorded 4 rebounds but did not register any assists.
SMU holds a record of 20-13 this season. They average 16.9 personal fouls per game and achieve a free-throw percentage of 74.1%. The Mustangs generate approximately 16.9 assists per game (31st in college basketball) while averaging 11.3 turnovers. Throughout the season, they have scored 2,779 points, averaging 84.2 points per game and securing 37.7 rebounds per game. As a unit, SMU shoots 49.0% from the field, ranking 24th in the nation.
Defensively, the Mustangs rank 284th in the country for points allowed per game at 77.6. They force their opponents into 12.2 turnovers per game and have allowed teams to shoot 43.4% from the field (130th in the nation). Opponent shooting from three-point territory is at 33.9% (325 of 960) and they allow 71.8% from the free-throw line. SMU permits 16.2 assists and 34.1 total rebounds per game, ranking 342nd and 158th nationally.
Which team will emerge victorious tonight against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on SMU (-6)
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