Malik Reneau poured in a season-high 28 points, Tre Donaldson sparked a second-half takeover, and the Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team rallied past Pitt 76-69 Tuesday night at the Watsco Center.
Miami (12-2, 1-0 ACC) flipped the game after halftime, outscoring Pitt 43-26 while winning the glass 43-28, including 14 offensive rebounds. The Hurricanes also leaned on the charity stripe, hitting 20-26 free throws.
Pitt (7-7, 0-1) controlled the first half with a punch-counter rhythm. Miami ripped off an 11-0 burst and grabbed a 25-15 lead, then the Panthers answered with a 20-0 run that swung momentum and forced Miami into chase mode. Reneau picked up his third foul during that stretch, and the Panthers carried a 43-33 lead into the locker room.
Miami responded with its sharpest stretch of the night out of the break. The Hurricanes opened the second half on a 15-2 run, capped by a Donaldson layup that pushed Miami in front and changed the atmosphere in the building. Miami’s defense tightened the paint, rebounding fueled quick pushes, and Pitt’s looks grew tougher as the clock moved.
Donaldson dominated the closing minutes. He knocked down two free throws for a three-point Miami lead with 5:11 left, then drilled a three, finished a layup, and knocked down another jumper as part of a nine-point personal run that separated the Hurricanes. Reneau delivered the dagger, burying a late shot-clock three in front of the Miami bench for a ten-point cushion with 38.6 seconds left. 247Sports
Donaldson finished with 19 points and three assists, while Tru Washington added 11 points. Shelton Henderson finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, and Ernest Udeh Jr. anchored the inside with 11 rebounds and three steals. Dante Allen returned after a five-game absence and logged 14 minutes off the bench.
Pitt got 17 points and eight rebounds from Cameron Corhen, 16 points from Barry Dunning Jr., and 14 points plus four assists from Damarco Minor. Roman Siulepa chipped in 10, but the Panthers couldn’t match Miami’s second-half physicality on the boards or at the line.
The Hurricanes won’t play again until January 7, when they travel to face Wake Forest.
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