For the first time since Jan. 24, 2024, the Miami Hurricanes (7-2) have won a road game, and it comes when the ACC needed it most against the Ole Miss Rebels (5-3), defeating them 75-66.
Not only was this a massive win for the program, but it was also a wake-up game for one of the Hurricanes’ star players.
However, Miami started the game poorly. Five quick minutes and five quick turnovers stifled the Canes in the early goings against the Rebels. It was sloppy both ways with questionable fouls and non-calls all the same, but soon the Hurricanes started to settle in.
Dec 2, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Miami Hurricanes forward Shelton Henderson (7) bloocks a shot attempt by Mississippi Rebels forward James Scott (4) during the second half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
It started with Shelton Henderson. The five-star freshman has been rechallenged time and time again by head coach Jai Lucas to take that step to be the player that he needed to be, and against the Rebels, his sleeper agent activated.
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He crashed the boards, attacked the rim, and even chirped back and forth with some of the students in the Pavilion in Oxford, Miss. He did everything he could to have a career night, and he did.
Henderson finished with a career-high 18 points, nearing a double-double with nine rebounds, five assists, and two monster blocks in response to the nagging Rebels faithful. He was just the Energizer Bunny for the Canes, as his energy was passed around like the 15 total assists the team had.
Dec 2, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Miami Hurricanes forward Shelton Henderson (7) dribbles as Mississippi Rebels guard Zach Day (31) defends during the second half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
That sparked the Hurricanes to flex their offensive capabilities in the first half, shooting 8-15 from beyond the arc, sparking the Rebels in every area of the game. Moreover, defensively was where the Canes made their money.
After the win over Ole Miss, Miami has jump in KenPom from No. 46 to No. 38, now has a top 20 defense in the country and projected to go 22-9.
As the season goes on, the country will get so used to what Tru Washington is doing that his defensive performances will become numbing. Jai Lucas challenged him to be one of the best defensive guards in the country, and he took it to heart.
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Dec 2, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels guard Travis Perry (11) dribbles up the court as Miami Hurricanes guard Tru Washington (10) and forward Shelton Henderson (7) defend during the second half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Washington finished the game second in scoring with 17 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Tre Donaldson also played outstandingly, leaning more into his leadership role as a guard, guiding this team to victory.
What was better was that they didn’t need Malik Reneau to score 20 points to win. UM’s big man finished with 15 points, six rebounds, three stocks, but had four of those five early turnovers in the opening minutes. He eventually settled, as did the team.
The Hurricanes will now return home to face Southern Miss in another out of conference matchup on Dec. 6.
Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University and is the site lead for the Miami Hurricanes on SI. He can be reached at Twitter @Justice_News5.
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A player who spent most of the 2025 season with College Football Playoff finalist Miami has now joined the Indiana program ahead of the national championship game.
Tight end Brock Schott was with the Hurricanes until Jan. 2 when he entered the NCAA transfer portal as Miami was still in the playoff.
Last week, he committed to the Hoosiers, before they went on to make the national title game, too.
Schott announced on Jan. 5 that he was joining the Indiana program.
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The addition of Schott could give the Hoosiers an advantage as the freshman from Indiana knows the Miami playbook, as well as the team’s signals.
Brock Schott appeared in two games for Miami this season, catching a pair of passes for 24 yards. Both of his catches came in a 45-3 win over Bethune-Cookman.
Prior to joining the Miami program, Schott was a four-star recruit who was one of the top tight end prospects in the country.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound player caught 28 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns as a senior at Leo High School. He also played defense, recording 52 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in 11 games.
Schott had an even better season as a junior, catching 35 passes for 743 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, he had 32 tackles for loss and 19 sacks as a junior.
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Miami and Indiana are set to meet in the national championship game on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Miami’s Three Kings Festival, centered around the annual Three Kings Parade in Little Havana, celebrates the Epiphany with a vibrant parade down Calle Ocho, featuring floats, music, and cultural performances, typically held the Sunday after Three Kings Day.
