All eyes on the prize: Hurricanes set to play Indiana in National Championship game

Zach Cohen
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All eyes on the prize: Hurricanes set to play Indiana in National Championship game

For the final time this season, the Miami Hurricanes will put it all on the line, stepping onto the sport’s biggest stage to face No. 1 Indiana for a National Championship.

Coming off the program’s first-ever Fiesta Bowl win, a 31-27 thriller over Ole Miss, UM will play at Hard Rock Stadium one more time this season.

“At the end of the day, your preparation doesn’t change,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said to the media ahead of the game. “Your intensity is always driven up the closer and closer you get to game time and as you go deeper into the season.” 

UM’s intensity will have to be turned all the way up against Indiana. 

The Hoosiers are not only undefeated but have had one of the best program rebuilds in college football history under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti. In just two seasons, Cignetti has led IU to a 26-2 record, including a Big Ten championship win against Ohio State.

Indiana has been nothing short of dominant in its playoff run, scorching Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl and most recently defeating Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl to punch its ticket to the National Championship,

South Florida ended up being the perfect place for this game as members from both sidelines have ties to Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. On Miami’s side, Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal played football at the school in the 1980s. 

Photo Editor Brian Mulvey // Head Coach Mario Cristobal raises the Cotton Bowl trophy after Miami’s victory against Ohio State University on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.

But the biggest story of them all is the 22-year-old Heisman quarterback who came out of Cristopher Columbus, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

“He’s [Fernando Mendoza] ahead of the defense all the time,” Cristobal said. “He’s two steps ahead. He understands the back end, the front. He’s extremely accurate, poised. He can make you pay with his feet. He can make you pay with his arm.”

Indiana’s offense has been electrifying all season long, scoring the third most points per game at 40.4 and averaging 461 yards per game, good for 11th in the country.

In its rout of Oregon, Mendoza finished the game 17-of-20 passing with 177 yards and five touchdowns. Mendoza was given the opportunity to score with ease multiple times due to his defense making key stops all night to set up good field position.

Despite the two schools only having faced off twice with the most recent matchup being Miami’s 14-7 win in 1966, Mendoza does have experience playing UM. 

In 2024 with Cal, Mendoza threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns as the Hurricanes edged out the Golden Bears in a 39-38 thriller.

And it’s not just Mendoza with talent for the Hoosiers, IU’s offense features a tandem of talented running back and wide receiver duos. 

Starting with the running backs, redshirt senior Roman Hemby has rushed for just over 1,000 rushing yards, while senior Kaelon Black is just under that mark. They combined for 116 yards on the ground in their last game against the Ducks.

On the wide receiver side of things, Omar Brown Jr. and Elijah Sarratt are both over 800 yards receiving. Against Oregon, Sarratt stole the show with seven receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

If Miami wants to slow Indiana’s high-octane offense, it must play its best defensive game of the season. That starts with getting pressure on Mendoza, something UM has done consistently against elite offensive lines all year. The challenge won’t change against the Hoosiers, and Miami will be the best defense Indiana faces this season.

One key for the Hurricanes will be third down defense. Miami has to stop the Hoosiers on third down as they are the No. 1 third-down offense in the country, sitting at 58.2% and going 11-for-14 against Oregon.

When Mendoza does throw the ball, he is on-point as he sits third in the country in completion percentage, right behind Miami quarterback Carson Beck. 

It will be a must for UM defensive backs like Ethan O’Connor and OJ Frederique Jr. to heavily contest Mendoza’s passes against talented wideouts. The defensive back room could be thin on Monday with cornerback Damari Brown questionable and Xavier Lucas missing the first half after being ejected for targeting against Ole Miss. 

Photo Credit: David Lebowitz, Photo Editor // Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. stands over an Ole Miss player during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8, 2026

While the Hurricanes defense is firing on all cylinders Indiana’s isn’t too shabby either as the Hoosiers scored many of its points thanks to the defense.

On the first play of the Peach Bowl, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore stepped back and threw the ball into the hands of Indiana defensive back D’Angelo Ponds for a 25-yard pick six. Moore was sacked three times and fumbled the ball twice.

There will be no room for error for Beck and the offense. Coming off a 268 passing yards game, Beck dealt in the fourth quarter when it mattered most with two key drives within the final minutes of the game, including rolling out of the pocket himself with less than 30 seconds to score the game-winning touchdown.

Over the past three playoff games, Miami has run the ball for 150 yards or more, which has and will continue to be a key to success. In the Fiesta Bowl, junior running back Mark Fletcher Jr. ran the ball for 133 yards on 22 attempts. Sophomore Marty Brown was a key contributor as well, rushing for 54 yards and a touchdown.

“Mark Fletcher has had hundreds and thousands of repetitions. And when you do that, and when you’ve been through what he’s been through, it just means that much more,” Cristobal said. “And it shows in the way he approaches everything that he does. So I think it’s a combination of all those things that’s showing up.”

Ultimately, this championship will come down to execution. Whichever team wins the line of scrimmage, avoids costly mistakes, and plays with poise under pressure will walk away with the trophy. 

For Miami and Indiana, Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium isn’t just another game—it’s a moment that will be etched into the history books.

The National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium is on Monday, Jan. 19, with kickoff scheduled for 7:50 p.m. and pregame ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Photo Credit: David Lebowitz, Photo Editor // Miami wide receiver Keelan Marion celebrates against Ole Miss on Jan. 8, 2026

Copyright laws need to modernize to include fan-made edits

Marissa Levinson
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Copyright laws need to modernize to include fan-made edits

I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve been scrolling through my saved folders on TikTok, Instagram or X to watch video edits of clips from my favorite TV shows, only to find nothing but a shell of what once used to be there, with a body of text over it. It reads: “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim.” 

Video edits of shows and movies, which are often paired with trending songs as the audios, have gained traction on social media platforms among hundreds of fan bases. Navigating this new age of fan-generated edits comes with confusion. As copyright laws based on precedent aren’t current enough to guide regulations on this new type of content, video edits deserve to be protected under copyright law.

Are edits legal?

Fan-made video edits range from less than 30-seconds to a few minutes long. This poses the question of whether they are legal in terms of copyright. The law gives copyright the “power ‘to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Investors the exclusive Right to their Respective Writings and Discoveries,’” according to Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. 

This means, under the Copyright Act of 1976, “original works of authorship fixed in tangible medium of expression” are protected. According to the four exemptions of the copyright law, video edits are protected by the first amendment and therefore, should be legal to publish. 

How the Fair Use Doctrine protects edits

Although copyright applies to all original works, there are some protections under the Fair Use Doctrine. The first ground for an exemption is based on the statute that “the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for the nonprofit educational purposes.” While video edits are not typically educational, the purpose is noncommercial and nonprofitable, which should be sufficient to protect them. 

The second statute is “the nature of the copyrighted works.” In this case, the nature of the fan-created video may fall under the category of parodies. The third statute states that the level of protection depends on “the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole.” 

This does raise concerns considering video edits include either entire scenes or clips of them. However, given that every other statute can be applied, and only one is required for it to be legal, they should be exempt. 

Statute four refers to “the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work,” which is often positive. 

For example, one edit of the movie “10 Things I Hate About You” garnered one million views and 139,000 likes — and counting — on Instagram. 

While at first glance this seems like an immense success for the editor who uploaded it, their success transfers to the movie, as the top comments include users asking “Movie name?” This edit may have prompted viewers to seek out and likely watch this movie that they evidently did not know much about otherwise. 

It’s like a modern-day trailer, that oftentimes is more captivating than an official one when using more pivotal moments paired with a beloved song scored over it. As long as the edits aren’t being monetized, both parties benefit — the movies and shows with more sales and viewers for their new releases, and the editor with their skillful work earning more views and exposure. 

Everyone wins

Actors, directors, screenwriters and other crew members of the films and shows often show their support for these videos. Similar to how interviews and press tours are used following the release of new media, edits can be the new way to spread the word. 

Editors spend hours on average making these videos. It’s safe to say that they are proud of the final product in a way that it’s their own work. Though the scenes may not be their own, they are making something new and original with it. If they are not spreading misinformation, they should not be considered an infringement on copyright.  

UM football player Bryce Fitzgerald robbed by armed suspects

Madison Block
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UM football player Bryce Fitzgerald robbed by armed suspects

University of Miami defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald was robbed by armed suspects at a party in Florida City, Fla on Saturday, Jan. 10, according to police.

The incident occurred at an Airbnb where several suspects armed with rifles entered the home and robbed Fitzgerald around 3 a.m. according to Florida City police. The location is about 40 minutes south of UM’s campus.

The incident follows the Miami Hurricanes 31-27 win over the Ole Miss Rebels in the College Football Playoff semifinal in Arizona.

Bryce Fitzgerald, a freshman and Miami native, attended Christopher Columbus High School — the same school as Indiana University quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

The Miami Hurricanes are set to face Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers in the national championship game on Monday, Jan.19 at 7:30 p.m.

AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! brings free music to Miami Beach

Gabriel Mena
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AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! brings free music to Miami Beach

AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! heads to Miami Beach on Jan. 17 – 18, turning Lummus Park into the center of one of the largest free music weekends of the year. Timed perfectly with the first weekend of the spring semester, the event offers University of Miami students a high-profile cultural moment just as campus life comes back into full swing. 

Friday’s lineup speaks directly to UM’s live-music crowd, with electronic heavyweights Calvin Harris and John Summit headlining a night expected to flood South Beach with students and music fans alike. 

The day kicks off with XANDRA, whose rising profile and electronic music makes her a fitting opener before the night escalates into full-scale festival energy along Ocean Drive.

Saturday shifts the focus while maintaining the same intensity, highlighting Miami’s deep connection to Latin music and global pop trends. 

Peso Pluma and Latin Mafia headline a bill that reflects the current wave of Mexican and Latin artists reshaping mainstream music. Opening duties fall to Alvaro Díaz, a rising Puerto Rican superstar, setting the tone for a night that encourages attendees to return for a second day that is just as culturally impactful as Friday’s EDM-driven draw.

The scale of the event also brings logistical challenges. With Lummus Park at the center of South Beach, parking is expected to be extremely limited, and given the magnitude of the artists, a near-complete shutdown of Ocean Drive is likely. Public transportation and ride-sharing will be the most practical options for attendees. 

AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! stands out as more than just a lead-up to the College Football Playoff National Championship. A free beachfront concert featuring acclaimed artists, happening just as students return to campus, makes the weekend an early-semester highlight for UM and a clear reminder of Miami’s status as one of the country’s most influential music cities.

REVIEW: The ‘Never Ending Story’ of ‘Stranger Things’ has come to its end

Marissa Levinson
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REVIEW: The ‘Never Ending Story’ of ‘Stranger Things’ has come to its end

Hawkins, Indiana. A basement. Four boys and a game of Dungeons and Dragons: A game that tells a story of its own. This story ends where it began. 

“Stranger Things 5″ began its roll-out just before Thanksgiving and concluded with an emotional series finale on New Year’s Eve. 

Ringing in 2026 was a bittersweet event for fans of the show. Although it has run its course and its characters’ stories have all resolved, letting go is hard, especially when anticipation for the next season of the show has been a familiar feeling for the past nine years. 

It’s a cultural-reset. A uniting phenomenon. A world built so intricately and vividly you can hardly believe it’s fictional — well, alternate dimensions and demogorgons aside.  

For an audience that has seen the main “Stranger Things” actors go from teenagers to parents, any ending for the show would’ve been a tearjerker..

A gap of three years stood between seasons four and five. Although some of the anticipation was bound to subside, it inevitably returns the second that the neon-red letters and eerie keyboard of the title sequence starts. 

It’s both nostalgic and new. For the one to two hour-long episodes, it’s everything to the audience. 

When season four concluded with Hawkins adorned with ashes, I thought the following episode would open with a state of crisis, standing apart from the rest of the openers. However, it followed the formula of the previous premieres, with a time jump and the characters mostly carrying on with their lives. 

It was quieter than what I expected. Regardless, volume one felt like the most impactful of the three this season.

With every season, the cast of the show grew. A larger cast increases the chance of someone’s performance falling short, but that just never was the case. 

From original stars like Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, to season four and five’s villain, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), every scene was moving, not only due to the writing, but also their seamless delivery. 

Noah Schnapp’s performance this season is also worth noting, as his character, Will Byers, navigates a more responsible, powerful role. 

Though cliché in some moments, it always worked. It always had you in it, feeling every fear, plot twist and epiphany with them. 

This season, Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher), the youngest sibling to Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard), took the spotlight. Though her plot was captivating, it often overshadowed other characters who audiences have bonded with since the earlier seasons. 

Though crucial, the actors and writers aren’t the only part of the crew who are vital to creating this intricate world. The true immersion can be accredited to the work of the special effects and makeup department, as well as the set designers and cinematographers. 

Each of these details, stacked onto flawless editing and a peak soundtrack, creates the final, unforgettable product. Season four may be known for its iconic use of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” but the finale has perfect needledrops of Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.” 

In season one, the characters weren’t monster-hunters with a drive to survive. They were just regular people who didn’t understand their supernatural town. 

Now, in season five, they’re professionals. While fighting for their lives and strengthening their survival skills, the characters grew as people, too. 

Fan-favorite Steve Harrington’s (Joe Keery) development is one of the most notable, growing from a popularity-seeking bully into a paternal role. 

Like the rest of the ensemble, his growth was gradual and sensical, attributed to the show’s strong writing in not only plot-driven, action-packed, spine-chilling scenes, but personal, heartfelt ones as well. 

The mysteries and mayhem that riddle Hawkins may have been what drew viewers into “Stranger Things,” but it’s the characters and dynamics that give the show its charm that keeps viewers invested after all these years. 

The show’s soul is the theme of friendships’ importance in an unlikely, life-or-death scenario. 

While I do love the direction that the finale took, the episodes leading up to it, particularly five through seven – volume two – revealed some pacing issues in the writing. 

Had the episodes progressed in a more dramatic way, it could’ve provided the edge-of-our-seats climax that audiences craved.

I was honestly caught off guard when the climax of season five was over. I was waiting for a twist that kept the action going for a few minutes, since volume two felt like it didn’t have enough build-up. 

The overall ending was predictable, but in a way that felt satisfying and whole. To add twist after twist after everything has finally been figured out would be an injustice to the simpler psychological-horror, mystery, cliche-80s appeal that the series opened with in season one. 

This season served to tie loose ends and provide explanations for the inexplicable that has struck Hawkins from 1983 to 1987. 

Every plot in “Stranger Things” has always been spelled out. Having the ending be more ambiguous leaves room for the audience to believe in continuations that won’t be brought to life on screen. 

The final-battle’s action may have fallen a bit short, but the emotions that followed were at an all-time high. 

As said by creator Matt Duffer, “it’s a coming-of-age story. Ultimately, that’s what it’s supposed to be. That’s what the show always was.” The ending every character was supposed to have is exactly what they were given. 

Although “Stranger Things” has officially ended, the universe will live on in an expected spin-off. Fans can also say goodbye to the series with the recently-announced behind the scenes documentary, coming to Netflix Jan. 12th. 

The final episode was never about monsters or the final fight or the upside down or even The Abyss. It was about the people on the other side: “The Right Side Up.”

Rating: 4/5

Pricey National Championship student tickets sell out immediately

Ariana Glaser
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Pricey National Championship student tickets sell out immediately

On Jan. 12, 2026, the University of Miami sent out a ticket link for students to purchase tickets to the National Championship. The tickets were priced at $488, and they sold out in under five minutes.   

After the Miami Hurricanes won the Fiesta Bowl and secured their place in the College Football Playoffs, many students scrambled for last-minute tickets. An email sent out on Jan. 12 informed students that they would have the opportunity to purchase student tickets that same day.

“You have access to the National Championship ticket on-sale. All students are limited to one (1) ticket per account,” read an email from Hurricanes Football. “To purchase, you must be logged into your student ticket account in order to access the on-sale. Reminder: Student CFP tickets are non-transferable and must be used by the student who purchased them.”

According to the Miami Hurricanes’ website, student tickets are included in undergraduate tuition, allotted through the mandatory athletic fee. Most students were led to believe that they would be allowed free tickets to the National Championship due to this clause.

“Each team in the College Football Playoff Championship Game receives 500 free student tickets courtesy of CFP sponsor Taco Bell,” University Athletics wrote in a statement to The Miami Hurricane. “We received more than 4,000 student requests for the CFP Championship Game and allocated the 500 tickets based on 2025 home football game attendance…Once we qualified for the CFP Championship Game, we released 500 additional upper-level seats strictly for students at the face value ticket cost.”

University Athletics went on to explain that all students were placed in a virtual waiting room then selected to purchase tickets at random. In total, one thousand tickets were distributed to UM students, and none were rescinded.

“It was definitely a hefty price,” said Ella Mead, a UM freshman who was one of the lucky few to secure a ticket. “But it pales in comparison to what the non-student tickets were selling for online.”

On StubHub, ticket prices range from $3,000 to $65,000. 

Tickets became accessible at 12 p.m. and sold out by 12:05 p.m, though some students reportedly were able to find tickets after refreshing for thirty minutes.

An anonymous post to UM’s YikYak feed wrote, “Like this if you didn’t get a ticket.”

The post got more than 1,300 likes.

Kyle’s offensive outburst leads Hurricanes to 89-73 victory over FSU

Zach Cohen
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Kyle’s offensive outburst leads Hurricanes to 89-73 victory over FSU

On the backs of graduate center Ra Shaya Kyle ‘s career high 30-point performance, Miami women’s basketball defeated rival Florida State 89-73 on Sunday afternoon.

Families, Hurricanes Alumni, and students were all in attendance for the rivalry matchup. Not only were former players like Sheila Simpson (1998-02) and Maria Brown (2010-14) celebrated, but the game had high implications for the students as well.

A raffle took place after the first media timeout of the fourth quarter for two students to win tickets to the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 19. 

The players definitely felt the energy of the students as five Hurricanes including Kyle racked up a double-digit performance.

Florida State (5-12, 0-5 ACC) had the hot hand early, putting up five quick points led by junior guard Emma Risch. UNLV transfer Amarachi Kimpson answered back with a three-pointer.

Kimpson has been exceptional in ACC play this season, averaging 14.25 points per game in four ACC contests. She finished with 17 points on the night. Despite attempts to take the lead, the Seminoles held a 19-18 lead going into the second quarter. 

Photo Credit: @CanesWBB via X // UM Guard Amarachi Kimpson drives to the basket during Miami’s 64-48 loss to Kentucky on Dec. 3 2025.

Miami flipped momentum early on in the second quarter as Kyle had two quick baskets. It was back and forth the entire quarter but UM took a 37-35 lead at the halftime break.

Sophomore guard Gal Raviv scored seven of her 13 points in the third quarter, firing on all cylinders. UM shot a stifling 61.1% from the field in the third and closed the quarter on 11-0 run.

Up 66-56 going into the last 10 minutes of play, Miami played with assertive defense as they hold Florida State scoreless from beyond the arc. Four fourth quarter rebounds from Kyle led Miami to a 89-73 victory,

Miami (11-6, 3-3 ACC) will hit the road for three games and will first travel to North Carolina to take on the Tar Heels on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.

Catching Up with Miami Baseball Legend and World Series Champ Jon Jay

Bella Wells
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In this episode, Bella Wells interviews University of Miami alum, World Series champ, and professional baseball coach Jon Jay.

Listen on Spotify

How Miami–Indiana became college football’s most exclusive — and expensive — game

Bella Armstrong
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How Miami–Indiana became college football’s most exclusive — and expensive — game

The cheapest non-student affiliated seat to watch Miami play Indiana for the national title currently costs over $3,000, proving that college football’s biggest night has officially outgrown the student budget.

With tickets starting around $3,000 and climbing to just under $50,000, this Hurricanes–Hoosiers match up isn’t just a sporting event — it’s a luxury commodity, and one of the most expensive collegiate football games in history.

Indiana, fresh off its Peach Bowl victory and an undefeated season, is coming to Hard Rock Stadium to face Miami at home in the Hurricanes’ first national championship appearance in 24 years. 

The result is a matchup few saw coming between two programs that have rewritten the sport’s expectations.

And for fans hoping to witness it in person, the price of entry has never been higher.

As of Friday morning, the cheapest ticket on StubHub was listed at $3,082 in Section 313, Row 29. Ticketmaster followed closely behind at $3,177, while SeatGeek’s lowest seat was $3,195 — all for views from the upper corners of Hard Rock Stadium. And that’s before the listings abandon reality entirely.

Because second-row box seats are currently listed for as much as $49,884. 

“On one hand, they can charge whatever they want because no one has to go to the game. But on the other hand, it feels a bit like a scam,” junior UM student Allie Senker said. “[Students] are the closest people to the players themselves, and we already pay so much money to go to this school that I don’t see why we shouldn’t have priority for a game we’re playing in.”

A finite number of student tickets for Miami students were up for grabs and officially went on sale Jan. 12 at noon. Students awaited patiently, credit cards in hand, for a generational chance to watch the Hurricanes play for the national championship in person.

Waiting in an online queue to purchase tickets were freshmen students Lauren Hernandez and Joshua Fernandez.

“There’s definitely a cap on what we’re going to pay,” Hernandez said, the price for student tickets still unknown. “We’re students. We can’t pay thousands.” 

“There’s definitely a cap on what we can pay,” Fernandez confirmed.  

“$275 is our cap, but we think it’s going to be a lot more,” Hernandez continued.

When students were finally prompted to purchase their tickets, they were faced with a $485 price tag.

According to a UM parents-only Facebook group, Indiana students were allegedly provided with free tickets to the championship game, a stark contrast to Miami students who paid $485 for theirs. In spite of these high prices, tickets sold out quickly, with UM students citing it took anywhere from eight to 18 minutes to do so. 

For the majority of students who were unlucky in their endeavor to purchase student tickets, they are now forced to step outside the safety net of chance and giveaways and are dropped straight into the resale economy — where, in this case, student budgets go to die. 

The resale market has transformed a college football game, traditionally the most democratic of America’s many sporting rituals, into a gated experience reserved for those who can treat four figures like pocket change. 

What was once about squeezing into metal bleachers with your friends now comes with a luxury price tag and a velvet rope.

Donaldson powers Miami to 91-81 win over Georgia Tech

Liam Hickey
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Donaldson powers Miami to 91-81 win over Georgia Tech

While Hurricanes football is winning big across the country, Miami men’s basketball continues to stay perfect back at home in Coral Gables.

Led by a career performance from guard Tre Donaldson, the ’Canes (14-2, 3-0 ACC) started and finished strong to secure their ninth straight win and improve to 11-0 at the Watsco Center, dismantling the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets 91-81.

Miami is now 3-0 in ACC play, a feat the program has only accomplished four times since joining the conference 22 years ago. 

The Hurricanes sprinted out of the starting gates, jumping out to a 15-2 lead within the first six minutes.

Georgia Tech (10-7, 1-3 ACC) managed to close the gap to within seven, but Shelton Henderson’s nuclear first-half outing helped UM to fend off the Yellowjackets’ sting. 

The five-star freshman forward tallied 14 of his 17 points in the first frame of action, closing the half with an emphatic dunk to send Miami into the break with a 47-33 lead.

Georgia Tech entered the third quarter nearly flawless, going 10 for 14 from the field and shooting 57% from the floor. 

Although the Hurricanes had built a solid safety net heading into the final 20 minutes, the Yellowjackets were able to cut the deficit to five with four minutes remaining. Another poor showing from the foul line kept Georgia Tech within striking range, with Miami only scoring on 21 of 32 free throws.

However, despite the errors from UM, the Ramblin’ Wreck could once again not get out of their own way and committed 14 total turnovers. Miami turned its blunders into baskets, converting 18 points off the visitors’ giveaways. 

Georgia Tech remains one of only three teams with a negative turnover margin on the season.

Photo Credit: @CanesHoops via X // Miami Hurricanes freshman forward Shelton Henderson takes the ball up court during a scrimmage against Florida Atlantic on Oct. 26, 2025

Winning 77-72 with 4:13 left to play, Timotej Malovec drilled a silencer from beyond the perimeter to extend the Hurricanes’ advantage to eight points. After Malovec ignited the fuse, Miami never lost its flame, shutting the door on the Yellowjackets by connecting on their last six offensive possessions. 

Veteran guard Donaldson was surgical down the stretch. The Big 10 and SEC transfer registered seven points in the final four minutes, burying a game-clinching three pointer to widen the gap to nine with 0:39 left on the clock.

Donaldson finished his afternoon tying his career-high of 27 points and dishing out 10 assists, marking his fifth double-double on the season. The Tallahassee native continued to exhibit his clutch gene, notching 15 of his 27 in the second half alone. 

Now shining as a team captain finally with the opportunity to represent his home on the third team of his collegiate career, Georgia Tech head coach Damon Stoudamire credits UM head coach Jai Lucas with Donaldson’s senior year explosion.

“This is probably the first time in his life that he’s had a coach that believes in him from start to finish,” Staudamire said.

The other two members of Miami’s core three were also significant contributors, with Malik Reneau adding 18 points and Henderson bagging 17 points and four rebounds in total. 

6 -foot-11 center Ernest Udeh Jr. also chipped in mightily for the Hurricanes, netting 13 points from the interior and dominating off the glass with 15 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double.

Lucas could only think of one worthy comparison when describing Udeh’s role on the squad. 

“I say it all the time, he’s like having a great wide receiver. He’s our version of Malachi Toney,”  Lucas said. “We put him in these different ball screen situations, and you throw a lob, and he can go get it. He’s up there somewhere. It opens everything else when you have somebody that’s such a lob threat and can put pressure on a ram and a defense to have to either adjust what they’re going to do.”

Miami now heads to South Bend in search of their tenth consecutive win as they square off against rival foes Notre Dame on Tuesday. Tip off is at 7 p.m. with coverage on ESPNU.

Photo credit: Makena Wong, Photo Editor. // Ernest Udeh Jr. (8) runs back up the court after scoring against Jacksonville on Nov. 3, 2025 at the Watsco Center.
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