Post by : Maya Rahman

In a thrilling ACC-SEC Challenge on Tuesday night, the Miami Hurricanes triumphed over Ole Miss with a score of 75-66 in Oxford, Mississippi. Led by Shelton Henderson’s dynamic performance of 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, the Hurricanes not only snagged this important win but also matched their total victories from last season while ending a painful 16-game road losing streak, marking their first true road win since January 24, 2024, against Notre Dame.

The Hurricane's shooting from beyond the arc was particularly impressive, achieving a season-high of 11 three-pointers from 25 attempts for a success rate of 44 percent. Tru Washington made a significant contribution, scoring 17 points and netting four of six attempts from three-point range. His stat sheet included seven rebounds and three steals, underlining his critical role in both offense and defense.

On the other side, Ole Miss struggled as Travis Perry and Patton Pinkins led their scoring effort, each securing 11 points. Malik Dia narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Unfortunately for the Rebels, this marked their third consecutive loss.

Miami started strong, boasting a 47-28 lead with 18:27 left in the second half, prompting Ole Miss to substitute their entire starting lineup. The Rebels attempted to rally with a brief 12-2 run led by Koren Johnson, bringing the score to 49-40. Despite ongoing pressure that saw the score drop to nine points in the final minutes, Tru Washington answered with five quick points to stabilize Miami's lead and ensure the victory.

Miami's defensive strategies were instrumental in their success, with Ole Miss managing a mere 26 points in the first half—their lowest of the season—and shooting only 25.8 percent (8-of-31) from the field. Ultimately, the Rebels made 11 three-pointers out of 26 attempts, with Perry sinking three of those shots, finishing the game with a shooting percentage of 34.8 (23-of-66).

Miami also saw strong performances from Malik Reneau, who contributed 15 points along with six rebounds, and Tre Donaldson, who added 11 points with four rebounds and four assists. This success is especially noteworthy given that they played without guards Dante Allen and Marcus Allen, with Allen expected to be sidelined for several weeks due to an upper-body injury, while Marcus Allen's condition remains uncertain due to a lower-body injury.

This victory is a morale booster for Miami, emphasizing the significant contributions from stars like Henderson and Washington. Their impressive shooting clinic and solid defensive play illustrate their capability to thrive on the road, despite the absence of two crucial starters.

Looking ahead, Miami aims to maintain this positive momentum in upcoming games, putting a focus on sustaining their shooting precision, defensive strength, and depth to ensure continued success in both conference and non-conference arenas.

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