Facing what felt more like a hostile road environment than a neutral-site NCAA Tournament opener, seventh-seeded Miami showed poise, toughness and balance when it mattered most Friday night, pulling away late for an 80–66 victory over 10th-seeded Missouri in the West Region first round.
With the crowd heavily favoring Missouri just a couple of hours from the Tigers’ campus in Columbia, the Hurricanes never wavered. Malik Reneau led the way with 24 points, Tre Donaldson delivered key baskets down the stretch, and Shelton Henderson added 15 points as Miami (26–8) used a decisive second-half surge to secure its first tournament win since its run to the 2023 Final Four.
Now the Hurricanes turn their attention to a high-profile second-round showdown Sunday against second-seeded Purdue, which routed Queens in its opener.
Missouri (20–13) entered the tournament struggling, having dropped three straight games before Selection Sunday and nine of its last 10 NCAA Tournament appearances overall. Still, the Tigers showed resilience early, battling through offensive issues to stay within striking distance.
Miami appeared to take firm control late in the first half, stretching its advantage to 10 points as its rebounding dominance limited Missouri’s second chances. But the Tigers closed strong before the break.
Anthony Robinson II sparked the late push with a transition basket, Mark Mitchell followed with free throws, and Robinson capped a 9–0 run with a 3-pointer that trimmed Miami’s lead to 27–26 heading into halftime.
The second half followed a similar script, with Miami maintaining a narrow edge until Missouri surged midway through the period.
Mitchell’s 3-pointer gave the Tigers a 54–52 lead and briefly energized the pro-Missouri crowd. For a moment, momentum had clearly shifted. But that’s when Miami delivered the defining stretch of the game.
The Hurricanes responded immediately with an 11–0 run that flipped the contest for good. Reneau and Henderson each scored back-to-back baskets during the burst, helping Miami seize a 63–54 lead with just over four minutes remaining.
Mitchell tried to keep Missouri within reach, knocking down a pair of late 3-pointers. Each time, Miami answered.
Reneau converted two clutch free throws after the first triple, and Donaldson buried a momentum-stopping 3-pointer after the second to effectively seal the victory. Despite Missouri’s apparent size advantage on paper, Miami controlled the glass throughout the night.
The Hurricanes dominated rebounding 46–30 and turned that effort into a decisive 19–2 edge in second-chance points. That physical effort helped offset Missouri’s perimeter shooting attempts and ultimately wore down the Tigers late in the game.
Jayden Stone led Missouri with 21 points, while Mitchell added 19. Robinson finished with 11 points and five assists before fouling out in the final minute.
Miami now advances to face second-seeded Purdue with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. Given how well Purdue fans typically travel, the Hurricanes could once again find themselves playing in a challenging atmosphere.
If Friday night proved anything, though, it’s that Miami is comfortable embracing the role of spoiler—and ready for the moment.
