HAMILTON — Miami University Hamilton entered the 2025-26 season with a national title in hand, a strengthened roster and the familiar weight of expectations under sixth-year coach Mike Piatt.
The Harriers won last year’s United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II championship with a gritty 53-52 victory over Penn State Schuylkill, rallying from a pair of double-digit deficits and sealing the program’s first national crown in dramatic fashion.
The title capped a 22-8 season and a 12-game winning streak. It also marked MUH’s fourth straight trip to the USCAA national tournament — and its second finals appearance in three seasons.
Piatt said the nation’s toughest strength of schedule played a major role in preparing the Harriers for the postseason a year ago.
And that philosophy, now? It hasn’t changed.
“We always get everyone’s best,” Piatt said. “Certain people won’t play us anymore — that’s a tribute to the success we’ve had. Every year our schedule gets tougher and tougher. But I’m real happy with our guys so far.”
MUH opened the season with a statement victory, beating defending USCAA Division I national champion Apprentice after jumping out to a 17-point halftime lead. The Harriers sit at 3-3, including a road loss to Ohio Christian — a 25-win team last year.
“We shot to win it, but we did some things in the second half that precluded us from winning,” Piatt said of that setback. “We’ll learn from it. This is a good test for us, and we’ve got to keep responding.”
Piatt returns several key veterans from the title team — Shaeden Olden (Troy), a senior guard averaging 13 points last season; Bryson Curry, a Lakota West product and sophomore point guard with what Piatt called “a really good feel” for MUH’s system; and Mark Watson (Bloomfield Hills), a senior forward and three-year contributor who Piatt said “does a ton of things that never show up in the stat sheet.”
Junior guards Kaleb Wanamaker (Start) and Ryder Thompson (Fenwick) provide scoring and ball-handling depth. The roster also includes junior Tyler Kress (Milton-Union), sophomore Carter Burg (Northwest) and sophomore Khiryn McNeal (Horizon Science).
To that experienced core, Piatt added an influx of newcomers he believes fit the Harriers’ identity. Freshman Terrell Pollard, a 6-foot-5 wing from Bedford, has impressed early. Guard Aaron Davis Jr., a senior and Purdue Northwest Division II transfer, returns home to Cincinnati after starring at Woodward.
The roster also includes 7-foot junior Deovion Edwards (Buchtel), 6-7 sophomore Aamir Roger (Fairfield), and a deep freshman class in Willie Brown (Finneytown), Dalton Branson (Bradford), Vincent Mauro (Pickerington Central), Nasir Turner (Gahanna Lincoln), Eric Snow (Trinity) and Michael Akindele (Lakota East).
“We recruit a certain type of player — unselfish guys who can pass, cut and fit how we want to play,” Piatt said. “Selfish players won’t make it in our program.”
MUH led the nation defensively a year ago, and Piatt’s emphasis remains unchanged.
“If we can keep opponents in the 50s, we’re going to have a great chance to win,” Piatt said. “Everything starts with our defense. If we’re turning people over and rebounding, we’re pretty darn good.”
The Harriers are in the middle of a demanding stretch, playing three games in four days before getting a short break. Piatt said the Harriers look forward to another road contest against a Mid-American Conference program — this year it’s Ohio University on Dec. 22.
“You’re going to see us play really, really hard,” Piatt said. “You’ll see our motion — passing, cutting, moving the ball, trying to be hard to guard. And hopefully we’re creating havoc on the defensive end. That’s what we have to do.”
As MUH looks to defend its national crown, Piatt believes the formula has been solidified — stay unselfish, stay disciplined and stay relentless.
“If we play smart and play our way,” he said, “we’re pretty darn good.”
