Hurricanes Overcome Ole Miss, Ending Road Struggles

In a triumphant turn, the Miami Hurricanes defeated Ole Miss 75-66 during the ACC-SEC Challenge on Tuesday night in Oxford, Mississippi. Star player Shelton Henderson shined, racking up 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. This victory not only matched Miami’s win total for the entire last season but also terminated a disheartening 16-game road losing streak, marking their inaugural true road win since January 24, 2024, at Notre Dame.

Miami displayed impressive shooting skills from long-range, sinking 11 three-pointers out of 25 attempts for a 44 percent success rate. Tru Washington emerged as a key player, contributing 17 points with four successful shots from beyond the arc. His performance also included seven rebounds and three steals, demonstrating his impact on both ends of the court.

On the other side, Ole Miss’ Travis Perry and Patton Pinkins were the top scorers with 11 points each, while Malik Dia fell just short of a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds. Unfortunately for the Rebels, this loss marked their third consecutive defeat.

Miami surged ahead early, boasting a 47-28 lead with 18:27 remaining in the second half. In response, Ole Miss swapped out all five starters. The Rebels attempted a comeback, momentarily narrowing the gap with a 12-2 run spearheaded by Koren Johnson, reaching 49-40. However, as Ole Miss pushed closer, Tru Washington quickly countered with five points to solidify Miami’s lead and secure the win.

Defensively, Miami excelled, restricting Ole Miss to just 26 points in the first half—their lowest of the season—and limiting their overall shooting to 34.8 percent (23-of-66). The Rebels managed to hit 11 three-pointers out of 26 attempts, with Perry accounting for three of those.

Other Miami contributors included Malik Reneau, who logged 15 points and six rebounds, and Tre Donaldson with 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists. The Hurricanes achieved this success despite missing guards Dante Allen and Marcus Allen; Allen is sidelined for several weeks due to an upper-body injury, while Allen’s condition remains uncertain due to a lower-body issue.

This victory is a critical confidence booster for Miami as they progress through their season, showcasing key players like Henderson and Washington. Their remarkable shooting and defensive prowess were key, demonstrating the team's ability to prevail on the road, even without two starters.

Looking ahead, Miami aims to maintain this momentum in upcoming games, focusing on sustaining shooting precision, defensive resilience, and depth to continue their successful run in both conference and non-conference competitions.