As they have done all season, guard Tre Donaldson and forward Malik Reneau were dominant in the second half as the Hurricanes beat Missouri 80-66 in the NCAA Tournament first round on Friday night.
Donaldson scored 17 points on 6-11 from the floor, 5-7 three-point attempts to set a season high and 0-1 from the free throw line with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. In the second half, Donaldson scored 14 points with four rebounds and three assists while playing all 20 minutes.
Reneau scored 24 points on 7-16 from the floor, 2-4 on three-point attempts and 8-11 from the free throw line with six rebounds, three assists and a steal. In the second half, Reneau scored 19 points on 5-6 from the field, 2-2 on three-point attempts and 7-9 from the free throw line with three rebounds, an assist and a steal.
After leading Missouri 53-40 at halftime, Miami outscored the Tigers 53-40 in the second half. Miami was 16-27 from the field, 7-12 on three-point attempts and 14-21 from the free throw line in the second half. Miami started the game 4-12 from the free throw line and finished 17-29.
Putting the game away late
Miami dominated the last seven and a half minutes. Missouri took its first lead since 2-0, 54-52, on a Mike Mitchell three-point shot with 7:50 remaining in the game. Miami answered with an 11-0 run to remain in the lead at 63-54 with 4:28 left.
Donaldson had two rebounds and two assists during the 11-0 run and Renau had five points a block and a steal during the run. Mitchell made another three-point shot with 3:20 left to cut the Miami lead to 65-60. Miami outscored Missouri 15-6 from that point to earn the win.
Donaldson made two three-point shots and Reneau scored five points for Miami in the final 3:20. Tru Washington had three free throws and Shelton Henderson one in the final minute for Miami. Miami has been elite in closing games throughout the 2025-26 season in large part because of Donaldson and Reneau.