Miami freshman forward Shelton Henderson is a key role player inside of Coach Jai Lucas’s offense as he was the No. 22 high school player in the high school game a year ago. Henderson accrues 11.1 ppg and shoots 53 percent from the field so far in ’25-26. Photo courtesy of Miami Athletics.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes held the Georgetown Hoyas to 1-of-7 from the floor and took a quick 10-2 lead some 4:14 into Friday night’s game, and the Hurricanes controlled the Hoyas, 78-65, in the Third Place game of the Imagination Bracket in the ESPN Events Invitational at State Farm Field House.
Miami forward Malik Reneau proved he was a tough matchup for the Hoyas early in the game when he scored six points from around the lane while nailing a three to give Miami a 16-3 advantage with 10:24 remaining in the first half.
“This is huge for us,” explained first-year Miami head coach Jai Lucas after the convincing win. ” Just because it gives us confidence knowing that we could do it and win these types of games.”
Reneau joined Georgetown’s Caleb Williams in leading all scorers with 19 of his game-high 23 points in the first half, and Reneau finished 8-of-14 from the floor.
Reneau was able to get the basketball inside the paint in the first half with his athleticism and immediacy by hitting a three from the left top of the key, spotting the Hurricanes a 41-20 lead with three seconds remaining before halftime.
The ‘Canes held Georgetown to 35.6 percent from the field as point guard Tre Donaldson hit a triple with 9:23 to play to give Miami its biggest lead at 63-39.
“They’re a really good team.,” noted Lucas, who is the son of former Maryland Terrapins guard John Lucas, who was a two-time consensus all-American and the Maryland Athlete of the Year in 1976.
The Hoyas missed 14 consecutive shots in a 7:56 stretch that allowed Miami to build a 16-3 lead just 9:36 before halftime.
“They had a tough night,” Jai Lucas said. “I think we helped with that with how we guarded, especially in the first half. I’m just proud of my guys.”
Tru Washington was 7-of-10 from the field with 17 points, while Donaldson picked up 13 points and contributed six assists in 33 minutes.
Miami has held its opponents to 39 percent from the field in the Canes’ first eight games as Reneau (20.8 ppg), Donaldson (15.8 ppg), and Washington (13.7ppg) are the Hurricane’s top three leading scorers.
Georgetown point guard Mailk Mack is an incredible ball handler and facilitator, who came to DC from Harvard two years ago. Mack had a tough night, going 3-of-11, but he made it to the line 10 times and made eight to finish with 16 points and seven assists. Mack is emblematic with changing directions in the half-court, which allows him to find driving lanes, free up open shooters. and make his own three-point shots.
Thomas’ 23 and KJ Lewis’s 17 helped Georgetown cut the Miami lead back to 74-64 with just over two minutes remaining.
“First and foremost, you always have to give the opponent a ton of credit – a ton of credit,” said Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley. “We’ll get our guys to rally and try to make adjustments to see how we can get back on the winning side.”