The Miami Hurricanes’ hot streak came to a halt Saturday afternoon, as they ran into a surging Clemson squad that handed them a 69-59 loss at Littlejohn Coliseum. It’s Miami’s first defeat since Thanksgiving and snaps a 10-game win streak that had them climbing the ACC standings with serious momentum.
Now sitting at 15-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play, the Hurricanes got a taste of just how tough the ACC road can be-especially against a Clemson team that’s quietly building a case as one of the league’s most balanced and dangerous outfits. The Tigers improved to 16-3 on the year and remained perfect in conference play at 6-0.
Clemson came out swinging, opening the game on an 8-0 run that immediately put Miami in chase mode. The ‘Canes managed to claw their way back to within three at 15-12, but the Tigers responded with a 9-2 burst that pushed the lead back into double digits. By halftime, Clemson held a 35-26 cushion and had clearly established the tone-physical, disciplined, and relentless on both ends.
The second half didn’t start any easier for Miami. Clemson stretched the lead to as many as 17 midway through the half, threatening to put the game out of reach entirely.
But credit to the Hurricanes-they didn’t fold. A 9-0 run, sparked by a pair of tough Tre Donaldson finishes at the rim and a timely Noam Dovrat triple, gave Miami some life and trimmed the deficit in a hurry.
Still, every time the Hurricanes made a push, Clemson had an answer. The Tigers bumped the lead back up to 14 with under four minutes to go, and while a late Tru Washington layup helped Miami chip away again, the clock wasn’t on their side.
Freshman Shelton Henderson continued his impressive run, leading the Hurricanes with 22 points. That’s now three straight games with at least 17 for the young guard, who’s quickly becoming a consistent scoring threat.
Malik Reneau added 11 points, and Dante Allen chipped in 10. Down low, Erenest Udeh Jr. was a force on the glass, pulling down a game-high 17 rebounds-just one shy of matching his career best.
This one stings for Miami, not just because the win streak ends, but because it came against a direct ACC rival that’s now gaining separation atop the standings. Still, there’s no time to dwell.
The Hurricanes are back home Tuesday night for a rivalry showdown with Florida State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on ESPNU, and you can catch the radio call on 560 AM WQAM.
With the ACC race heating up, every game matters-and Miami’s next one is a big one.