The University of Miami men’s basketball team ended its regular season with a close 92-89 loss to Louisville at the Watsco Center on Saturday.
Louisville, now holding a 22-9 overall record and an 11-7 mark in ACC play, built a nine-point halftime lead after shooting over 62 percent from the field and making nine out of fifteen three-point attempts. The Cardinals led by as many as twelve points during the first half before Miami narrowed the gap following Noam Dovrat’s third three-pointer.
In the second half, Louisville maintained its advantage, leading by eleven points nine minutes in. Malike Reneau responded for Miami with two free throws, and Tre Donaldson added a three-pointer to reduce the deficit to six. Reneau then made five consecutive free throws across three possessions, bringing Miami within three points with just over five minutes left. After a timeout, Reneau blocked J’Vonne Hadley’s shot, which led to another Donaldson three-pointer that tied the game.
After Issac McKneely hit a free throw for Louisville, Donaldson gave Miami its first lead of the game with a floater. The teams traded leads until Shelton Henderson put Miami ahead 87-86 on a tip-in. Adrian Wooley answered for Louisville with a three-pointer from the top of the key, giving his team a two-point edge with eighteen seconds remaining.
Louisville secured its win by converting three of its last four free throws in the closing moments.
Donaldson finished as the game’s top scorer with 25 points and six assists. Reneau contributed 18 points and set a personal best by making fourteen free throws. Tru Washington added twelve points along with five rebounds and four assists, while Henderson scored eleven points.
Miami will next compete in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals as the No. 3 seed on Thursday at 2:30 p.m., with coverage scheduled for ESPN or ESPN2.
