Miami Hurricanes Triumph Over SMU Mustangs
In a decisive matchup on Wednesday evening, the No. 22 Miami Hurricanes overcame the SMU Mustangs with a 77-69 victory in Dallas, clinching a double bye for the upcoming ACC Tournament. The win continues Miami’s impressive form as they have now triumphed in seven of their eight latest contests since February began.
Key Contributors
Key contributors included Tre Donaldson, who tallied 17 points, and Malik Reneau, who excelled with a double-double, registering 12 points and 11 rebounds. Tru Washington also played a significant role by adding 15 points to the team’s efforts. Freshman Noam Dovrat showcased his shooting skills once again, netting 12 points, highlighted by four successful 3-pointers for the second consecutive game.
Historic Performance
This clash marked Miami’s initial outing as a ranked team in the AP Top 25 since December 2023, following their ranking achieved earlier in the week. The game not only tied their school record for regular-season wins but also bolstered their impressive overall improvement, now totaling 17 more victories than last year, under the leadership of first-year head coach Jai Lucas.
SMU’s Struggles
On the opposing side, SMU’s Jaron Pierre Jr. shone with a remarkable 27 points, including six 3-pointers, while Boopie Miller contributed 21 points. Despite the strong performances, the Mustangs have been struggling, now losing three straight games. Earlier in the season, they managed to secure double-digit triumphs against ranked teams like North Carolina and Louisville, but they have not made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017.
Game Highlights
Throughout the game, Miami maintained the lead, with only four ties noted, the last at 23 points each before Dovrat’s critical 3-pointer brought the score to 26-23 with 7:34 left in the first half. Dovrat’s solid play was evident, as he converted all three of his 3-point attempts within limited minutes before halftime, closing with a last-second shot that solidified a 7-point margin heading into halftime.
As the second half unfolded, Miami expanded its lead to 60-44, but the Mustangs attempted a comeback with back-to-back 3-pointers from Pierre. Just as SMU had a chance to tighten the score further, a turnover from Miami’s Ernest Udeh Jr. was countered when he delivered a critical block against SMU’s Samet Yigitouglu, who finished the game with 12 points. Udeh further complemented his defensive efforts with 10 rebounds, helping secure the Hurricanes’ victory.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Miami is set to host Louisville on Saturday, while SMU will face Florida State on the same day. Fans can stay updated on AP Top 25 poll alerts throughout the season by signing up for notifications on the AP mobile app and website.
