No. 14 Miami got the kind of preseason test it wanted and came away with a 109-96 win over No. 24 Vanderbilt on Friday night at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables.
The Hurricanes didn’t just score in bunches. They did it efficiently, shooting 58% from the field on 40-of-69 attempts and 48% from deep on 12-of-25. Miami also piled up 20 assists and controlled the paint 54-46, a strong sign of how balanced the offense looked throughout the night.
Acaden Lewis set the tone for Miami and finished with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. He knocked down 3 of 4 from three-point range, added 10 assists and came away with three steals. Freshman Caleb Gaskins gave the Hurricanes another big boost with 20 points, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, and he turned it on after halftime with 14 points in the second half.
Preseason All-ACC First Team selection Shelton Henderson added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, giving Miami three of its seven double-figure scorers. Dante Allen chipped in 11 points, while Somto Cyril, Robert Miller III and Brent Bland each finished with 10. Nick Dorn had eight points and six rebounds, and his tip-in at the end of the first half helped Miami take a 49-44 lead into the break.
Miami came out fast and put Vanderbilt on its heels early. Lewis scored five of the Hurricanes’ first 13 points as they raced to a 13-2 lead, and Bland later stretched it to 21-5 with just under 15 minutes left in the first half.
The Commodores kept pushing back and trimmed the margin to 47-44 late in the period, but Dorn’s buzzer-beating tip-in gave Miami a little breathing room at halftime.
The Hurricanes only looked sharper after the break. Miami poured in 60 points in the second half, shot 60.6% from the field and hit eight threes. Gaskins buried four triples in the opening five minutes of the half as Miami built a 68-54 edge, then stretched the lead to its biggest of the night at 84-66 with a little more than 11 minutes left.
Vanderbilt made one last charge and got within 101-93 with under three minutes to go, but Henderson and Lewis answered with back-to-back baskets to end the rally and seal the win.
For Vanderbilt, Ace Glass led the way with 19 points, Chandler Bing posted 18 points and nine rebounds, and Tyler Tanner finished with 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting. The Commodores shot 44% from the field, going 32-of-72, and 36% from three-point range on 8-of-22 shooting.
In Other News...
Miami Just Got A Big Recruiting Boost With One Huge Twist
A'mir Sears has already given Miami plenty to feel good about, and now the five-star athlete from Christopher Columbus High School has delivered another boost for the Hurricanes recruiting momentum. The local standout, who committed in July, has reclassified to the 2027 class and plans to enroll early at the University of Miami in January, adding another headline-grabbing name to a class that has stayed highly regarded on the national scene.
Sears is still making his mark on the prep stage, too, lining up as both a wide receiver and defensive back while continuing to put together a strong high school career. For Miami, the timing matters as much as the talent: the Hurricanes have kept their 2027 class among the countrys elite despite some recent movement, and Sears decision only adds to the buzz around what the program is building. [Read more 🡒]
Miamis Elite Local Commit Could Arrive Sooner Than Fans Expected
AMir Sears has already given Miami plenty to feel good about, and now the elite South Florida commit may be moving onto campus sooner than expected. The five-star two-way standout, who recently reclassified and is currently at Christopher Columbus High School, has been putting up eye-catching production on both sides of the ball this season while settling in as one of the most prized recruits in the class.
What makes this development especially important for the Hurricanes is the local angle. Sears had no shortage of major offers, but he chose to stay home, and his reported plan to enroll early at the University of Miami could accelerate the timeline on his impact. For a program always trying to keep top talent in South Florida, getting a player of his caliber in the building ahead of schedule would be a meaningful boost even before he takes his first college snap. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Looked Dangerous But One Problem Could Haunt Them At UNC
Miami left the Pittsburgh game with plenty to like on offense, especially through the air, and the win offered another reminder of how dangerous this group can be when the passing game is humming. The rushing attack was solid enough to keep the offense balanced, and the good news out of the night was that Miami came away without any notable injuries as it turned the page toward North Carolina.
The bigger question now is whether that formula will hold up against a stronger opponent. Even after a productive showing, concerns about Miamis pass rush and pass defense linger, and those are the areas most likely to be tested in Chapel Hill. Against a tougher lineup, the Hurricanes may need more than offensive rhythm to keep control of the game. [Read more 🡒]