Miami Triumphs Over Ole Miss, Breaking Road Losing Streak

Post by : Mara Rahim

In a remarkable display, the Miami Hurricanes defeated Ole Miss 75-66 during the ACC-SEC Challenge on Tuesday in Oxford, Mississippi. Shelton Henderson shone brightly, scoring 18 points alongside nine rebounds and five assists, helping Miami match their victory total from the previous season and break a 16-game road losing streak, marking their first true road win since January 24, 2024, at Notre Dame.

The Hurricanes demonstrated exceptional shooting from the perimeter, sinking a record 11 three-pointers out of 25 attempts for a 44% accuracy rate. Tru Washington excelled, contributing 17 points with an impressive four out of six shots from beyond the arc, while also securing seven rebounds and three steals, showcasing his effectiveness on both ends.

For Ole Miss, Travis Perry and Patton Pinkins were the top scorers with 11 points each, while Malik Dia nearly achieved a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds. Despite their efforts, Ole Miss found themselves in their third consecutive defeat.

Miami made an early impact, leading 47-28 just under 19 minutes into the second half. The Rebels responded with a full lineup change but still struggled, achieving a brief 12-2 scoring run through Koren Johnson that brought them to within 49-40. Despite later narrowing the gap to nine points with a jumper from Perry, Tru Washington quickly elevated Miami's score with five rapid points, solidifying their lead and aiding in their victory.

Defensively, the Hurricanes excelled, limiting Ole Miss to their lowest output this season with just 26 points in the first half, and allowing them to shoot only 25.8% (8-of-31) throughout the half. The Rebels concluded the game with a shooting percentage of 34.8% (23-of-66), hitting 11 three-pointers from 26 attempts, with Perry contributing three of those.

Miami also saw contributions from Malik Reneau, who tallied 15 points and six rebounds, while Tre Donaldson added 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists. The victory came in the absence of guards Dante Allen and Marcus Allen, with Allen sidelined for several weeks due to an upper-body injury and Marcus Allen's participation uncertain due to a lower-body niggle.

This victory serves as a pivotal moment for Miami, enhancing their confidence as they continue their season and emphasizing the crucial roles of Henderson and Washington. Their impressive shooting and defensive strength were key, evidencing their capability to triumph on the road even in the absence of two starting guards.

Looking ahead, Miami aims to sustain this positive trajectory in forthcoming games, focusing on retaining their shooting precision, defensive rigor, and depth as they pursue further victories in both conference and non-conference play.