The No. 14 Miami Hurricanes opened the 2026-27 season with a 77-67 loss to the No. 1 Florida Gators at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, and the final score told the story of a game that slipped away from Miami after a promising start.
Acaden Lewis gave the Hurricanes plenty to work with. The sophomore poured in 24 points on 45 percent shooting, added four rebounds, one assist and a steal, and logged 35 minutes while carrying much of the offensive load.
He also turned it over four times, though that was still three fewer than in Miami’s exhibition win against No. 24 Vanderbilt at the Watsco Center.
Even so, Lewis was the most consistent creator on the floor for Miami, whether he was scoring or helping set the table.
Somto Cyril also gave the Hurricanes a lift. The former Georgia shot-blocker finished with 13 points on 80 percent shooting, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in 28 minutes, and he led Miami with a plus-9. Foul trouble was the only real drag on his night, as he picked up four personals.
The rest of Miami’s transfer group had a quieter evening. Five of the eight transfers saw action, but only Lewis and Cyril left a major mark.
Shelton Henderson, meanwhile, ran into a wall. The sophomore was held to seven points in 30 minutes and shot just 15.4 percent, while also grabbing nine rebounds and recording two steals.
He tried to make his presence felt inside, but Florida’s long frontcourt made life difficult at the rim. Henderson went one-for-four in the restricted area and missed both of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Florida’s answer came from the perimeter. The Gators hit 11 of 26 threes, good for 42.3 percent, and that edge from deep helped offset Miami’s 26-22 advantage in the paint. Thomas Haugh led the charge from long range with four makes on eight tries.
Haugh finished with 19 points on 46.2 percent shooting, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in 38 minutes, a stat line that matched his all-around impact. His senior season is off to a loud start, and he looked every bit like a projected NBA lottery pick.
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Against North Carolina, Toney kept producing even while drawing heavy double teams, finishing with seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. His season total has pushed him into record territory for Miami, and with more games still ahead, the only question now is how much more he can add to a season that already belongs alongside some of the biggest names in Hurricanes history. [Read more 🡒]