BCSNN | UPI — Miami waited 25 years for another NCAA Tournament win, and when it finally arrived Wednesday night, it came wrapped in noise, swagger, and a barrage of three‑pointers that shook UD Arena to its core. Behind 23 points and six threes from junior wing Eian Elmer, the 11th‑seeded RedHawks defeated SMU 89–79 in the First Four, advancing to the round of 64 for the first time since 1999.

Every time SMU made a push, Miami answered with something louder. Every time the Mustangs hit a big shot, the RedHawks hit a bigger one. And every time Elmer buried a three, he broke out the same John Cena‑inspired celebration — fitting, given the WWE legend personally greeted him earlier in the week as part of CBS and TNT’s March Madness Confidential series.

Elmer needed only 24 minutes to score his 23 points, including a personal 11‑0 run in the first half and two dagger threes in the final minutes. His backdoor dunk with 59 seconds left punctuated the win and likely earned him a spot on highlight reels nationwide.

But he wasn’t alone. Miami (32–1) set a First Four record with 16 made threes, had 20 assists to just four turnovers, and saw four players score in double figures. Brant Byers added 19 points, Luke Skaljac scored 17, and Almar Atlason delivered 12 off the bench. Peter Suder finished with seven points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a team‑best +11.

The atmosphere was unmistakably pro‑Miami. Though the RedHawks wore red road jerseys, the 12,558 fans in attendance made UD Arena feel like Millett Hall South.

“It was electric,” head coach Travis Steele said. “The best NCAA environment I’ve ever been a part of.”

Suder agreed: “One of the loudest gyms I’ve ever played in…they were the sixth man for us.”

Miami hit 10 threes in the first half alone, including early buckets from Skaljac, Elmer’s 1,000th career point on an acrobatic transition finish, and nine points in one minute from Byers. The RedHawks closed the half on a 9–2 run to lead 43–34.

SMU (20–14) tied the game early in the second half, but Miami responded with a 13–0 run sparked by Atlason and Byers. The RedHawks stretched the lead to 71–57 with 7:15 left, and Elmer’s late threes sealed the outcome.

Miami’s rebounding — a point of emphasis after a tough MAC Tournament showing — held even at 35–35, with 12 offensive boards fueling second‑chance scoring. The RedHawks also got an unexpected assist from their men’s swimming and diving team, whose chaotic descent behind the basket helped distract SMU’s Corey Washington during a key free throw attempt.

Steele, coaching in his first NCAA Tournament game, outdueled veteran Andy Enfield, who was making his seventh appearance.

“Push your chips all in — attack,” Steele told his team before tipoff. “We deserved the moment.”

Miami now advances to face sixth‑seeded Tennessee on Friday at 4:25 p.m. in Philadelphia. The winner will meet either Virginia or Wright State on Sunday.