Donaldson’s Career Night Leads Hurricanes to 67-66 Victory over Virginia Tech
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Tre Donaldson scored a career-high 32 points to lead Miami men’s basketball to a 67-66 victory over Virginia Tech on Wednesday inside the Watsco Center.
Donaldson was 13-of-24 from field including the game-winning free throw with 12 seconds remaining. The Tallahassee, Florida, native scored 24 of Miami’s 36 points in the second half including the last 15.
The Hurricanes (21-5, 10-3 ACC) opened the game on a 7-0 run that was camped capped off by a Dante Allen steal that lead to an and-one. The Hokies (17-10, 6-8 ACC) responded with a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game at 12-12 before extending their lead to 18-14.
Donaldson jumpstarted an 8-0 run to give Miami a 22-18 advantage. Virginia Tech continued to battle and led by as many as six late in the first half before taking a 34-31 lead into the break.
The Hurricanes quickly regained the lead, scoring the first six points of the half before the Hokies took a 44-43 advantage with 15:24 remaining. Virginia Tech led by five before Donaldson’s offense took over the game as he was 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe in the final seven and a half minutes.
Allen added 10 points and five rebounds while Ernest Udeh Jr. added a game-high nine rebounds. Miami won the battle in the paint, 42-34, and out rebounded the Hokies, 33-31.
Miami hits the road Saturday as the Hurricanes take on Virginia at 2 p.m. The game will air on ESPN2 and can be heard locally on WQAM.
Tickets are available for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season and can be purchased online at www.miamihurricanes.com/tickets.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Jai Lucas
Opening statement…
“One, how good is ACC? That’s my first statement. And then Virginia Tech. They’re extremely well coached. He (Mike Young) does a great job, both offensively and defensively. They’re physical. They execute. They’re just a really well coached team. I had to tell them I’m sorry after the game, because it’s like their fourth loss, under three seconds, and they would be in the top of the league if it wasn’t that way.”
On the team…
“I’m proud of our guys, because we found a way to win when we didn’t have our best stuff. We got a lot of guys playing heavy minutes, and a lot of guys banged up. Tre didn’t know if he was going play, Malik was dealing with a migraine, Shelton’s knee swole up on him, so we were just dealing with a bunch of stuff. Despite that, these are the games in late February, early March, that you have to win, and have to find ways to win if you want to compete at a high level. And we were able to do that.”
On Tre’s Performance…
“He willed us to it. And that’s what senior guards who have been in big moments, and why you bet on guys’ pedigree, of guys who won state championships, conference championships, and played in big games for moments like this.”
Ernest Udeh Jr., Center, Senior
On the messaging when they realized Malik wasn’t available…
“Coming out into the second half, obviously it was more obvious. Like I told the guys at halftime, told the guys at the end of the game — just a way to pick him up. Everything that we do is for each other. There’s not a single selfish person in the locker room. We understand what we’re trying to do. We understand what Miami basketball means to the community and everyone who shows up and supports us. You guys saw it — missed breakaway layup, pick him up. Missed three, he’s down, pick him up. Understanding we’re all there for each other no matter what the circumstances.”
On Tre’s performance…
“I was telling the guys — he was unconscious. I’m sitting there in the dunker, I’m seeing the shots go in. From my standpoint, it’s not like, ‘Oh wow.’ It’s Tre. I know what he’s capable of. I’m blessed to be able to call him my point guard night in and night out. He’s always in the gym, first one there, last one out, extra reps all the time. So him making that shot — it’s Tre.”
Tre Donaldson, Guard, Senior
On scoring 32 career points, including the final 15 points of the game…
“Little banged up. I just wanted to win. That’s the biggest thing. I just want to win. I want it for my team. I want it for my coaches. Most of all, doing it for these guys was the biggest thing. Just the will to want to win — I feel like that’s the biggest thing for me. Whatever it took, if it was me making a shot or making a play for my teammates, the ball just felt smooth. I just thank God and continue to put in work and let these guys trust me and trust them.”
On where the team is right now…
“Mid-February, this is where you want to be. That’s something coach preached to us. They’re not going to all be pretty, right? You don’t know what it’s going to take to win a game. So late mid-February like this, you just got to find ways to win the game. That’s all that matters. We’re happy, but we’re not satisfied. We have a chip on our shoulder. We’re not going to talk about it. Just continue to push, get better as a team and prove everybody wrong and go hunting and get what we deserve.”
