The Hurricanes secure an 80-66 win and prepare for a matchup against Purdue
Category: Sports
ST. LOUIS, MO — The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team opened the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a commanding 80-66 victory over the 10th-seeded Missouri Tigers on Friday night. This win marks a promising start for Miami, who will now face the second-seeded Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday at 12:10 p.m. ET, televised on CBS.
Miami, seeded seventh, demonstrated resilience and teamwork throughout the game, particularly during a decisive second half. The Hurricanes entered halftime with a narrow 27-26 lead after a back-and-forth first half that saw them lead by a maximum of 10 points. The Tigers, who ended their season at 20-13, managed to close the gap with a late surge, but Miami maintained control for most of the game.
Malik Reneau was the standout performer, scoring 19 of his 24 points during the second half. He also contributed six rebounds and three assists, demonstrating his all-around game. “What I'm most proud of is we talked about the glass and our identity showing, 46 rebounds, 16 offensive rebounds, 19 second-chance points,” said head coach Jai Lucas. “It was a team effort. I'm just really proud of them.”
Tre Donaldson also played a key role, scoring 14 of his 17 points after halftime, shooting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Shelton Henderson added 15 points, proving to be a valuable asset for the Hurricanes. Ernest Udeh Jr. excelled on the boards, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds, which helped Miami dominate the glass.
The Hurricanes shot 43.3% (26 of 60) from the field, capitalizing on their offensive rebounding to secure 19 second-chance points. Missouri, on the other hand, struggled with their shooting, finishing at 35.1% (20 of 57) and managing just two second-chance points throughout the contest.
Miami’s strong performance was punctuated by an 11-0 run that helped them pull away from Missouri late. This surge was fueled by Reneau’s three-pointer and a two-handed dunk by Henderson, creating a comfortable 63-54 lead with just over four minutes remaining. The Tigers attempted to claw back, with Mark Mitchell hitting a three-pointer to cut the lead to 65-60, but Donaldson quickly responded with a three of his own, sealing the victory for Miami.
“We had a good idea coming into the game what we were going to see,” Donaldson said. “Coach's biggest thing is just treat it like a normal road game. Don't try to overcomplicate it.” This mindset proved effective, allowing Miami to stay composed under pressure.
Miami’s victory is particularly noteworthy considering their tumultuous previous season, where they finished 7-24. The Hurricanes’ turnaround this year, culminating with a 26-8 record, ties a Division I record for a plus-19 win turnaround. This impressive feat showcases the progress made under Lucas, who is coaching his first season.
“We’ve been emphasizing offensive rebounding since we got here,” Reneau explained. “That’s all we’ve been doing, just every day, we offensive rebound. We do box-out drills, rebounding drills. So it’s just drilled into us to constantly keep pushing the rebounds on both sides of the end.”
Miami will face a formidable opponent next, the Purdue Boilermakers, who come into the matchup with a record of 28-8 after defeating Queens 104-71. Purdue’s guard Braden Smith was particularly impressive, scoring 26 points and dishing out eight assists. Smith’s performance will be a focal point for Miami’s defense, which has shown improvement throughout the tournament.
The upcoming game will be the fifth meeting between the two teams, with Purdue holding a 3-1 advantage. Miami’s last encounter with Purdue ended favorably for the Hurricanes, who won 58-54 during the 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge, overcoming a 20-point halftime deficit.
With the momentum from their victory over Missouri, Miami enters the game against Purdue with confidence. Coach Lucas expressed his trust and belief among his seasoned players and his freshmen, such as Dante Allen and Henderson, who have stepped up significantly. “They are kind of the foundation of the program,” Lucas noted, emphasizing the importance of their contributions.
Miami’s success this season has been marked by strong performances from multiple players. Along with Reneau and Donaldson, Udeh’s defensive prowess earned him a spot on the All-ACC Defensive Team, highlighting the team’s balanced skill set. The Hurricanes’ impressive offensive efficiency, shooting 50.1% from the field this season, ranks them among the best teams nationally.
Heading into the next round, Miami will need to maintain their rebounding edge and improve their shooting consistency to advance to the Sweet 16. The Hurricanes have proven they can compete with top teams, and their resilience will be tested against Purdue.
With the stakes higher than ever, fans are eager to see if Miami can continue their march through the tournament. The game against Purdue promises to be a thrilling encounter, and the Hurricanes will aim to build on their recent success and secure a spot among the elite teams of the NCAA Tournament.
Miami’s victory over Missouri marks a successful start to their tournament run and serves to remind everyone of their potential to make a deep playoff push. The Hurricanes are undoubtedly a team to watch this March Madness season.