As the Ohio Bobcats put the finishing touches on the RedHawks on Friday night, Miami’s fate was already sealed.
It will open the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Akron on Monday, because Northern Illinois beat the Ball State Cardinals minutes before the closing buzzer of the RedHawks-Bobcats matchup. To clinch a first-round home game, Miami needed Ball State to get the win over the Huskies.
The RedHawks (15-16, 7-11 MAC) are the ninth seed.
Jason Carter did Miami in during the second half of Ohio’s 66-57 victory at the Convocation Center. The redshirt sophomore forward scored 21 of his 26 points in the final period, helping the Bobcats put up 41 points after halftime.