Freshman Shelton Henderson scores 30 as UM tops FIU 98-81 in local rivalry game
The biggest crowd since the season opener showed up at the Watsco Center Tuesday night to see the University of Miami take on cross-town rival FIU, and fans of both teams were probably surprised to see the score knotted at halftime.
But the Hurricanes, riding the broad shoulders of freshman Shelton Henderson and the smooth play of reliable Malik Reneau, pulled ahead after intermission and won 98-81.
Henderson was back in the starting lineup after hobbling off the court the previous game with a heel injury. He looked unbothered as he scored a game-high 30 points on 10-of-12 shooting and was 10-of-11 from the free throw line. He also had five rebounds.
He is the first Miami freshman to score 30 points since Bruce Brown Jr. did it against North Carolina on Jan. 27, 2017.
“I didn’t see a freshman out there, that’s for sure,” FIU coach Jeremy Ballard said of Henderson. “He doesn’t look like a freshman. He doesn’t carry himself like a freshman. He doesn’t play like a freshman. He has a ton of maturity, physical maturity, obviously, but maturity in his game, as well.
“Everyone at the Watsco Center saw what that young man is capable of. Zero turnovers in 37 minutes, playing 37 minutes coming off a game where he got hurt, that speaks to his toughness. So, that young man has a bright, bright future.”
Henderson said he felt something in his heel the previous game but felt fine heading into Tuesday’s game. As for his performance, he said: “I just felt I had a good rhythm and these guys fed me the ball when I had the opportunity, and it showed.”
Reneau, the Indiana transfer and Miami native who has been UM’s leading scorer all season, went 8-of-12 for 22 points and added six rebounds and four assists
“They recruited me super early, when I was in like seventh or eighth grade, so it’s cool to get a win against FIU,” Reneau said. “Just seeing all the guys they recruited over the years, I saw some familiar faces from down South on that team. It was a good win for us.”
There was a buzz in the building, as there always is when Miami plays FIU. Both coaches talked about the importance of the game.
“I’m very appreciative of this opportunity to come to Coral Gables and play; we have a ton of respect for this university and athletic department,” Ballard said. “Coach Lucas is doing an amazing job. He’s going to be an amazing coach, really, really like their team. And very grateful for the Panther fans that showed up. Panther nation is strong and I think people heard them.”
Lucas was equally effusive about Ballard and his team, adding that this kind of test was exactly what he wanted for the Hurricanes as the ACC season approaches.
“I think they’re going to shock a lot of people; I have followed Coach Ballard all his eight years and this is the best team he’s had,” Lucas said. “We needed a game like this because we haven’t really dealt with a lot of pressure and adversity.”
On paper, this is a game the Hurricanes were expected to win fairly easily. According to the KenPom ratings, UM was No. 36 entering the matchup and FIU was No. 181.
Miami had won 11 of the 12 times the teams played since the Panthers joined Division I.
And yet, as the teams headed to their locker rooms at intermission, there was no dispute that the visiting Panthers were outplaying the Canes. FIU was shooting 53 percent overall and 45 percent beyond the arc. Miami, meanwhile, was shooting 47 percent and was an abysmal 1-of-10 from three-point range.
Everything changed in the second half. Miami used an 8-0 run and 13-2 run to pull ahead and played much better defense, as well.
“I was actually happy about the first half because I wanted to see how our guys were going to respond,” Lucas said. “We need opportunities like this to get ready for the ACC. Everyone in the ACC is going to punch back. It’s not going to be you throw a knockout in the first six minutes and the game’s over.”
Miami point guard Tre Donaldson missed his first eight shots but wound up with 10 points and dished out a game-high 12 assists, the same number he had against Louisiana Monroe last weekend.
The night began with a thunderous dunk by UM center Ernest Udeh, who had four more before the game was over. He finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Tru Washington added 13 points.
FIU was led by Corey Stephenson, who scored 23 points, John Mackey added 17 and Argentine freshman Thiago Sucatzky of Miami Prep chipped in 10 points.
“Thiago wasn’t just fired up because it was UM, that guy’s fired up to step up the court, he wakes up fired up,” Ballard said. “He’s got Argentina inferno within him. I love it, love him and believe in him. The young man is special, tough and has a great IQ.”
The crowd of 4,930 included former Heat star Goran Dragic and five-time NBA All-Star John Wall.
The Hurricanes improved to 10-2 and are back home Sunday at 4 p.m. against North Florida. The Panthers slipped to 5-4 and are home Saturday at 5 p.m. against Long Island University.
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM.