CORAL GABLES, Fla. (Interstat) — Malik Reneau scored 28 points and Tre Donaldson added 19 as Miami overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to defeat Pittsburgh 76-69 in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Watsco Center.

The Hurricanes (12-2, 1-0 ACC) trailed 43-33 at halftime but outscored the Panthers 43-26 in the second half, using a decisive 17-2 run early in the period to seize control. The victory extended Miami’s winning streak to five games, while Pittsburgh fell to .500 at 7-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

The most important part of the game was Miami’s explosive start to the second half, which completely reversed the momentum. After being outplayed for the opening 20 minutes, the Hurricanes opened the second period with relentless defensive pressure and efficient offense. They held Pittsburgh scoreless for over four minutes while reeling off 11 consecutive points, part of a larger 17-2 surge that turned a 10-point deficit into a 50-45 lead with 14:48 remaining. This stretch, fueled by transition baskets and forced turnovers, established a tempo Pittsburgh could not counter and set the stage for Miami to close out the game.

Pittsburgh had dominated the first half, shooting efficiently and building a lead that grew to as many as 12 points. Barry Dunning led the Panthers with 16 points, while Cameron Corhen added 17 and Damarco Minor contributed 14 points and four assists. The Panthers took a 43-33 advantage into the break, capitalizing on a 9-0 run late in the period.

The game shifted irrevocably in the first five minutes of the second half. Miami’s defense stiffened, and the offense found its rhythm behind Donaldson and Reneau. Donaldson scored seven points during the critical 17-2 run, including a driving layup that gave Miami its first lead since the opening minutes at 46-45. Reneau, the 6-foot-9 forward from Miami, was a constant force inside, adding six points during the surge and finishing the game 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

Pittsburgh struggled to regain its first-half form, shooting just 36% from the field after halftime. The Panthers pulled within 64-61 on a Damarco Minor 3-pointer with 4:46 left, but Miami answered immediately. Donaldson hit a crucial step-back 3-pointer on the next possession, and after a Pittsburgh miss, he connected on a mid-range jumper to push the lead back to eight with 3:19 to play, effectively sealing the outcome.

Miami’s supporting cast provided key contributions. Tru Washington scored 11 points, while Shelton Henderson added 10 points and nine rebounds. Ernest Udeh provided a strong interior presence with six points and several key defensive plays.

The Hurricanes, who entered the game as 10.5-point favorites according to sportsbooks, outperformed the pregame projection from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave them a 54.9% probability to win. The total score of 145 points fell under the over/under line of 147.5.

For Pittsburgh, the loss marked a frustrating start to ACC play after a convincing win over Penn State in its previous outing. The Panthers will look to rebound at home against Clemson on Saturday. Miami, which has won 10 of its last 11 games, travels to face Wake Forest next Wednesday.