No. 22 Miami beats SMU 77-69 in Dallas, clinching ACC third place and tournament double-bye

Miami secures postseason positioning with road win at Moody Coliseum

No. 22 Miami won 77-69 at SMU on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in a late-season Atlantic Coast Conference game in Dallas, a result that locked the Hurricanes into third place in the league standings and ensured a double-bye into the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.

The victory pushed Miami to 24-6 overall and 13-4 in ACC play. SMU fell to 19-10 overall and 8-8 in conference games, with the loss tightening the Mustangs’ margin for error heading into the regular-season finale and the conference tournament.

Key performers and late push from SMU

Miami guard Tre Donaldson led the Hurricanes with 17 points. Forward Malik Reneau produced a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, providing interior scoring and second-chance opportunities that helped Miami control key stretches.

SMU’s offense was driven by two primary scorers: Jaron Pierre Jr. finished with 27 points and Boopie Miller added 21. Pierre’s production was heavily second-half weighted, as he scored 25 of his 27 after halftime, helping SMU mount a late push that brought the game back within reach in the final minute.

SMU closed to 71-64 with 36.6 seconds left after Pierre scored 10 straight points, but Miami held on at the line and with late execution to finish the game.

How the game turned

Miami took a 38-31 lead into halftime, then opened the second half with a 7-0 run to stretch the margin. That burst created Miami’s largest cushion and forced SMU into a chase mode for much of the final 20 minutes.

SMU repeatedly trimmed the deficit to single digits, but Miami answered each time with baskets and free throws, maintaining control even as the Mustangs’ intensity increased late. Miami finished with multiple players in double figures beyond Donaldson and Reneau, reflecting a balanced scoring approach in a road environment.

Roster context and next steps

SMU played without starting guard BJ Edwards for the second straight game as he continued to deal with an ankle injury. The Mustangs’ ability to generate a late rally despite the absence underscored Pierre’s shot-making and Miller’s creation, but the early second-half gap proved difficult to erase.

• Final score: Miami 77, SMU 69 (March 4, 2026, Dallas)
• Miami leaders: Tre Donaldson (17 points); Malik Reneau (14 points, 11 rebounds)
• SMU leaders: Jaron Pierre Jr. (27 points); Boopie Miller (21 points)
• Standings impact: Miami clinched third in the ACC and a double-bye in the ACC Tournament

Both teams now turn to their final regular-season game with conference-tournament seeding and momentum at stake.