Surging UM uses defense to smother Boston College, build NCAA tournament resume
The resurgent Miami Hurricanes, several of them battling colds and minor aches, continued to build their resume for the post-season with an emphatic 76-54 home win over Boston College on Saturday afternoon.
UM, which went 7-24 last season and won only three conference games, improved to 23-6 with a 12-4 ACC record under first-year coach Jai Lucas.
The Canes have won six of their past seven games and their only loss in that stretch was by three points to then-No. 14 Virginia.
With two games remaining in the regular season, the Hurricanes are in third place in the ACC standings and projected to get a double-bye and automatic quarterfinal spot in the ACC Tournament. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has Miami projected as a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Lucas has instilled a style of play that relies on defense, rebounding, points in the paint, and getting to the free throw line. His team doesn’t aim to play pretty, but rather as “a big, physical monster,” in the coach’s words. That is why each game the top player is awarded a Jason mask in the locker room, a ritual that led to UM students starting to show up to games in masks.
The Canes stayed true to their identity on Saturday.
They had 14 steals (six of them by Tru Washington), forced 18 turnovers, outscored Boston College 42-28 in the paint and won the rebounding battle.
Tre Donaldson was the leading scorer with 15 points. Washington had 14 off the bench. Center Ernest Udeh, Jr., recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds along with three blocks and three steals. And Israeli guard Noam Dovrat hit four three-pointers off the bench for a season-high 12 points.
“One of the biggest moments in the game was Tru’s spark off the bench, and what he was able to do separated us,” Lucas said. “Him in that role, that’s what he’s capable of doing. His ability to take us to another level.”
He also singled out Dovrat for stepping up after not playing much in recent games.
“For Noam to come in and hit four threes after not playing for a while and just being engaged and ready, it goes to show his maturity and ability to buy into the team,” Lucas said. “He is used to being a point guard, so this is a new role for him to be a shooter.”
Dovrat said he understands his role.
“I knew I was going to be ready whenever coach put me on the floor,” he said. “I know my role is to shoot the ball outside the three-point line, so I just came in and shot. I have the confidence from the coach and teammates.”
The coach was pleased to see Udeh being assertive from the opening whistle.
“Ernest is so important to us, such a good player and I just want the best for him,” he said. “I’ve been on him all year about blocked shots. In the last two games, he’s protected the rim and it gives our defense another layer.”
Udeh said defense “has always been an instinctive thing for me, and it all falls on my energy.”
UM freshman guard Shelton Henderson, who tweaked his knee during the win at Florida State mid-week, showed no effects of the injury on Saturday. He gave Miami its first lead, 16-15, on a layup after the Hurricanes struggled to get going early.
He got a huge roar from the Watsco Center crowd of 6,040 with a thunderous dunk with six minutes to go in the first half and pushed UM ahead 25-17 on a putback. That basket capped a 13-2 Hurricanes run while the Eagles went on a long drought, missing nine of 10 shots.
The Canes ended the half on a 19-2 run and led 36-19 at the break. Miami got 12 points off 10 BC turnovers and outscored the Eagles 26-8 in the paint in the first half.
The Eagles came out hot, going 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to take a 13-6 lead. But they missed the next 11 attempts from distance. The 19 first-half points Miami allowed tied the lowest of any half this season.
UM is on the road Wednesday against SMU and returns to the Watsco Center Saturday at 2 p.m. for a Senior Day regular-season finale against 24th-ranked Louisville. Reneau, Donaldson and Udeh are the three seniors who will be honored.
This story was originally published February 28, 2026 at 5:03 PM.