Malik Reneau posts 20 as Miami Hurricanes top Syracuse 85-76 on the road
Malik Reneau posted 20 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, as Miami snapped a two-game skid with an 85-76 victory over Syracuse on Saturday afternoon.
Tre Donaldson and Shelton Henderson both finished with 16 points for the Hurricanes (16-4, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who opened the game on a 9-0 run and never trailed. Tru Washington was Miami’s fourth double-digit scorer with 14 points.
Despite committing 16 turnovers, the Hurricanes, shot 33-of-54 from the field (61 percent). Miami also made 7-of-13 3-pointers and out-rebounded Syracuse 37-21.
“Winning on the road is always hard, especially in this environment, which is one of the most historic in college basketball,” said UM coach Jai Lucas. “What worried me was their size and athleticism. We’ve been having trouble turning the ball over, and we ended up with 16 turnovers that led to 17 points for them.
“But we were able to battle and compete and stay connected throughout the game. This was a big win for us coming off two losses and we needed something to get us back on the right side.”
Donnie Freeman scored 14 points, while Naithan George and Kiyan Anthony each finished with 13 for the Orange (12-8, 3-4), who lost their third straight overall and second consecutive at home. The Orange’s Nate Kingz finished with 11 points, and William Kyle III added 10.
After Freeman’s turnaround jumper got the Orange to 50-48 4:47 into the second half, the Hurricanes outscored Syracuse 19-8 in the next six minutes. Timotej Malovec hit two 3-pointers during spurt and Donaldson’s 3-pointer with 9:50 remaining capped the surge, increasing Miami’s lead to 69-56.
The Orange got no closer than 83-76, when Kingz hit a 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining. Ernest Udeh’s dunk with 1:33 left increased Miami’s advantage before missed 3-pointers by King and Tyler Betsey ended Syracuse’s final comeback bid.
Miami began the ACC schedule with four consecutive wins before losses at then No. 22 Clemson Jan. 17 and a home defeat against Florida State on Tuesday. The Hurricanes are back home Wednesday night for a 9 p.m. game against Stanford.
“We’re not an offensive juggernaut,” Lucas said, in explaining his team’s strengths. “We have a formula we have to stick to. Offensive rebounds is a big part of it, getting fouled, points in the paint. If we hit threes, we hit threes. Arizona, the No. 1 team in the country, makes six threes a game and nobody talks about them having bad offense. So, if we stick to the formula, and do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll be fine.”
Syracuse lost its second straight at home following a 76-74 defeat against Virginia Tech on Wednesday. Like in the loss to the Hokies, a smattering of boos were heard at JMA Wireless Dome.