With their backs against the wall after consecutive losses to Clemson and Florida State, Miami needed a response-and they got one. On the road against a Syracuse team dealing with its own two-game skid, the Hurricanes delivered a much-needed 85-76 win on Saturday afternoon, showing poise, balance, and a renewed defensive edge.
Freshman forward Shelton Henderson summed it up best earlier in the week: “Everything just leads to the defensive end.” That mindset showed up early and often.
Miami came out locked in, holding Syracuse without a field goal for the first 3:46 of the game. It was a tone-setting stretch that reflected head coach Jai Lucas’ ability to make timely adjustments-especially after a shaky defensive showing in the first half against Florida State.
And fittingly, it was Henderson who got the scoring started, curling around the defense and hammering home a one-handed dunk that lit a spark. Miami jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Syracuse could get on the board. The Orange did manage to claw their way back into it, trimming the lead to 11-8 in a hurry, but every time they threatened, the Hurricanes had an answer.
Case in point: after Syracuse tied the game at 27, Miami responded with a quick seven-point burst. That kind of resilience defined the afternoon.
Still, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Syracuse stayed aggressive, especially in transition, forcing turnovers and pushing the pace.
But Miami had the antidote in senior forward Malik Renau, who controlled the paint on both ends. His footwork, touch around the rim, and ability to clean the glass helped Miami maintain a 41-36 edge heading into halftime.
The second half followed a similar script. Syracuse kept the pressure on, cutting the deficit to just two points on multiple occasions-43-40 and again at 50-48. But they could never quite flip the momentum.
Then came the dagger. Timo Malovec knocked down a pair of threes that reignited Miami’s offense and opened the floodgates.
The Hurricanes went on a run that ballooned their lead to 69-56-the largest of the game. From there, they never looked back.
The closest Syracuse got the rest of the way was within eight.
The final exclamation point came in style: a series of lobs from the backcourt ended with Ernest Udeh Jr. throwing down a powerful dunk to seal the 85-76 win.
Statistically, this was one of Miami’s most complete offensive performances of the season. They scored 52 points in the paint, shot 61.1% from the field, and hit 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. That kind of shot distribution shows just how versatile and efficient this offense can be when it’s firing on all cylinders.
Renau was the engine once again, leading the team with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists-his sixth double-double of the season. He shared the playmaking spotlight with Tre Donaldson, who also dished out five assists and added 16 points of his own.
Henderson chipped in 16 as well, showcasing his two-way potential, and Tru Washington added 14 to round out a balanced scoring effort.
For Miami, this wasn’t just a win-it was a statement. After back-to-back losses, they needed to prove they could regroup, refocus, and respond. Mission accomplished.