WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by contrasting styles and a frantic final minute, the Miami Hurricanes gritted out an 81-77 road victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball clash Wednesday night at a raucous Joel Memorial Coliseum.

The Hurricanes, relying on interior dominance and relentless effort on the offensive glass, weathered a torrent of Wake Forest three-pointers to escape with their fourth consecutive win. The victory improved Miami’s record to 13-2 overall, while Wake Forest fell to 10-6.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the game’s closing seconds. With Miami clinging to a 79-77 lead and just 11 seconds remaining, Wake Forest’s Juke Harris was fouled and sent to the line for two shots with a chance to tie. The Demon Deacons’ leading scorer, who had tormented Miami with 28 points, missed the first free throw. After a Miami timeout intended to ice him, Harris also missed the second.

Miami’s Malik Reneau secured the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled. He made the first free throw to extend the lead to three but missed the second. However, Shelton Henderson tipped in the miss with 26 seconds left, pushing the advantage to 81-77 and effectively sealing the outcome. Wake Forest’s final possession ended with a Nate Calmese turnover, stolen by Miami’s Dante Allen, as the Hurricanes closed out the tense win.

The entire contest was a battle of efficiency versus volume from deep. Wake Forest shot a blistering 11 for 21 from three-point range, led by Harris and Nate Calmese, who finished with 19 points. Miami, by contrast, struggled mightily from the perimeter, connecting on just 4 of 18 attempts.

The Hurricanes compensated with overwhelming advantages at the free-throw line and on the boards. Miami attempted 30 free throws, making 23, compared to Wake Forest’s 10-of-14 performance. More decisively, the Hurricanes hammered the Demon Deacons on the offensive glass, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to Wake Forest’s four. This led to a 15-4 edge in second-chance points, a pivotal margin in a tight game.

Miami guard Tre Donaldson orchestrated the offense with a team-high 21 points and six assists. His penetration and playmaking were constant threats. Reneau added 18 points, while Ernest Udeh provided a major spark off the bench with 10 points and a game-high impact on the glass, contributing to Miami’s 27-23 rebounding edge.

Wake Forest’s Harris was the standout performer, filling the stat sheet with his 28 points, which included four three-pointers, along with a steal and a block. Myles Colvin supported him with 13 points, but the Demon Deacons’ offense, which committed 12 turnovers, could not sustain its hot shooting throughout the final minutes.

The first half set the tone for the struggle. Wake Forest’s precision from deep, hitting 7 of 12 three-pointers, helped them build a 12-point lead at 29-17. Miami responded with a 14-2 run, fueled by attacking the basket, to tie the game at 31. The teams traded blows until the break, with Miami taking a narrow 39-38 lead into halftime.

The second half featured nine ties and 10 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than five points. Miami’s ability to consistently generate points in the paint and from the foul line ultimately proved the difference against Wake Forest’s perimeter-oriented attack.

The game was a statistical anomaly. Both teams finished with identical 28-for-54 shooting from the field. Miami’s superior offensive rating of 115.3 points per 100 possessions, compared to Wake Forest’s 112.2, underscored the value of their extra possessions from offensive rebounds and their efficiency from the charity stripe.

Miami next hosts Georgia Tech on Saturday. Wake Forest faces a quick turnaround with a challenging road game at North Carolina, also on Saturday.

Key Notes: Attendance was 7,869… Miami’s win came despite being projected as an underdog by advanced metrics and covering a narrow pregame spread where they were favored by 1.5 points… The total points scored, 158, went under the pregame over/under line of 155.5.