Recap: Men’s basketball goes 2-0 against Sun Belt opponents with win over Troy

The Miami University RedHawks men’s basketball team (18-5) took its fourth-straight victory on Feb. 8 after outscoring the Troy University Trojans (15-9) 69-62.

A first half characterized by multiple advantage shifts was followed by a second half that saw Miami hold the lead for the full 20 minutes.

Sophomore guard Evan Ipsaro led the RedHawks with 15 points, including seven free throws on 10 attempts. Sophomore wing Eian Elmer and redshirt first-year wing Brant Byers matched each other with 12 points and combined for five 3-pointers on 12 attempts.

Junior guard Peter Suder put the RedHawks up three early in the first half. Both teams put forth strong defensive efforts through the first 10 minutes, but the Trojans eventually took the lead after a layup from senior guard Tayton Conerway.

After falling behind 17-12, the RedHawks scored seven unanswered points, including a 3-pointer by Ipsaro, to retake the lead with seven minutes left in the first half.

Troy responded with a 9-5 run to take a 26-21 advantage with less than four minutes on the clock. Two consecutive 3-pointers from Byers brought Miami within two of tying, 29-27.

Byers dunked the ball to even the score, and three points from Ipsaro and Suder sent the game to half with Miami up 32-29.

Craft added four points at the top of the second half. The RedHawks combined for 12 points in the first five minutes while holding the Trojans to seven.

First-year guard Luke Skaljac scored eight points, his first of the game, and Craft’s layup gave the RedHawks a seven-point lead with 10 minutes to go.

Sophomore forward Victor Valdes briefly closed the gap to three with a deep shot, but Elmer’s second 3-pointer of the game brought Miami up 57-48.

Ipsaro and Elmer both sank their shots from behind the arc, giving the RedHawks a 67-57 lead with less than two minutes remaining. Miami prevented a Trojan comeback, and the RedHawks took their 11th win at Millett Hall 69-62.

The RedHawks have won nine games in 2025. Their loss to the University of Akron Zips concluded their undefeated streak in conference play, but the team feels like victories like today’s prove that the RedHawks are destined to make a deep push in March.

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“We can play physical too,” Elmer said. “This is a game that shows we’re definitely a team that’s gonna return, and we’re capable of doing things that most teams think we can’t handle.”

For head coach Travis Steele, a highlight of the game was the production off the bench. Byers, Ipsaro and Skaljac combined for 35 points against the Trojans.

“We got smart dudes,” Steele said. “The bench production that we have with Brant, Evan Ipsaro and Luke Skaljac [makes] a huge difference. We got nine guys who could start, that’s the strength of our team.”

The RedHawks have limited time to rest before they welcome the University of Toledo Rockets to Millett Hall on Feb. 11. For Steele, winning 18 games for the first time since the 2006-07 season isn’t enough.

“If we’re here to win 18 games, then we got the wrong guys,” Steele said. “The standard here is to get into the NCAA tournament and advance. I am pleased with the growth that we’ve had. It’s awesome, but we’re not where we want to be yet.”

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu