SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — Malik Reneau scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Miami Hurricanes overcame a sloppy performance with elite efficiency to defeat the Syracuse Orange 85-76 in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Carrier Dome.

The Hurricanes (16-4, 6-3 ACC) snapped a two-game losing streak by shooting 61.1% from the field, including 7 of 13 from 3-point range. Their offensive execution proved decisive against a Syracuse team that forced 15 turnovers but could not match Miami’s scoring punch.

The most important stretch of the game came early, as Miami established a commanding lead that Syracuse spent the rest of the afternoon trying to erase. The Hurricanes opened the game on a 10-0 run, fueled by a Shelton Henderson dunk and a 3-pointer from Reneau. Syracuse missed its first five shots and committed two quick turnovers, allowing Miami to set a physical, aggressive tone. The Orange did not score until a Nate Kingz jumper more than three and a half minutes into the game, and they spent the entire first half playing from behind.

Miami’s lead ballooned to 17 points late in the first half before Syracuse mounted a response. The Orange closed the period on a 9-2 run, capped by Kingz making two free throws with two seconds left, to trim the deficit to 36-34 at halftime.

Syracuse (11-8, 4-5) carried that momentum into the second half, briefly taking its first lead at 38-36 on a Donnie Freeman dunk just 35 seconds after the break. The game then settled into a tense back-and-forth affair with six lead changes over the next several minutes.

The Hurricanes ultimately created separation with a 12-2 run midway through the second half. After a Kiyan Anthony 3-pointer brought Syracuse within 56-55, Miami responded with consecutive 3-pointers from Timotej Malovec and Tre Donaldson, followed by a Shelton Henderson layup. An Ernest Udeh layup at the 7:45 mark capped the surge and gave the Hurricanes a 67-57 advantage, their largest of the half.

Syracuse made one final push, cutting the Miami lead to 73-69 with 2:33 remaining on a Nate Kingz layup. But the Hurricanes answered immediately with an alley-oop dunk from Udeh off a feed from Dante Allen. After a Syracuse timeout, Kingz hit a 3-pointer to make it 75-72, but Miami again had a response, as Donaldson found Udeh for another dunk on the ensuing possession. Syracuse would get no closer than five points the rest of the way.

Reneau, Miami’s top performer, recorded his first double-double in nearly a month, adding five assists in 34 minutes. He was supported by balanced scoring, with Donaldson adding 16 points and five assists, Henderson scoring 16 points with four assists, and Tru Washington contributing 14 points. Udeh provided a major interior presence with eight points, six rebounds and four blocked shots.

Syracuse was led by Naithan George with 13 points, five assists and four rebounds. Freeman and Anthony each scored 14 points, while Kingz finished with 11. William Kyle added 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks.

Despite the loss, Syracuse dominated several hustle categories. The Orange recorded 11 steals and 11 assists while committing only six turnovers. They converted those 15 Miami turnovers into 17 points. However, they were undone by poor shooting, connecting on just 6 of 21 attempts from 3-point range (28.6%) and 30 of 61 overall (49.2%). Miami’s interior dominance was also key, outscoring Syracuse 52-42 in the paint.

The Hurricanes’ offensive rating of 119.5 points per 100 possessions far outpaced Syracuse’s 108.4, illustrating the efficiency gap that decided the contest. Miami entered the game as a slight pregame favorite and covered the spread, while the combined score of 161 went over the posted over/under line of 150.5.

Miami, which had lost two straight close games to Clemson and Florida State, returns home to face Stanford on Wednesday. Syracuse, which has now lost three of its last four, travels to face North Carolina State on Tuesday.