Miami Dominates Paint, Rebounds in Narrow Win Over NC State

Hurricanes' physical play proves decisive in back-and-forth ACC battle

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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In a clash of contrasting styles, Miami (Fla.) overpowered NC State in the paint and on the boards, securing a narrow 77-76 victory over the Wolfpack. The Hurricanes' dominance inside, led by senior forward Malik Reneau's 26 points, proved to be the difference as NC State struggled to match their physicality.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the importance of establishing an identity and playing to your team's strengths. While NC State relies on perimeter shooting, Miami's commitment to pounding the paint and crashing the glass gave them a clear advantage that ultimately decided the outcome.

The details

Miami outscored NC State 56-32 in the paint and held a 40-29 rebounding edge, including a 20-8 advantage on the offensive glass. Reneau and freshman forward Shelton Henderson combined for 43 points, exposing the Wolfpack's defensive vulnerabilities. NC State kept the game close thanks to a strong shooting performance from sophomore wing Paul McNeil, but their inability to match Miami's physicality proved costly.

  • The game was played on February 15, 2026 at the Lenovo Center in front of 18,410 fans.
  • Miami reserve Tru Washington made three free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining to give the Hurricanes the lead.

The players

Malik Reneau

Miami's 6-9 senior power forward, who scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.

Shelton Henderson

Miami's 6-6 freshman small forward, who contributed 17 points and 9 rebounds.

Tru Washington

Miami's junior wing player, who made the game-winning free throws in the final seconds after recently rejoining the team.

Matt Able

NC State's freshman shooting guard, who scored a season-high 17 points off the bench.

Will Wade

NC State's head coach, who was disappointed in his team's lack of effort and physicality.

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What they’re saying

“We always base our game off of three things — points in the paint, offensive rebounding and winning the free-throw battle.”

— Jai Lucas, Miami Head Coach (Miami Herald)

“We gave up 20 offensive rebounds, so I don't think we responded to much of anything. That's just who we are — we're soft. We are a jump shooting team. That is who we are as a group.”

— Will Wade, NC State Head Coach (Raleigh News & Observer)

What’s next

NC State will look to bounce back when they host rival North Carolina on Tuesday, though the Tar Heels will be without injured freshman forward Caleb Wilson.

The takeaway

This game showcased the importance of establishing a clear identity and playing to your team's strengths. While NC State relies on perimeter shooting, Miami's commitment to dominating the paint and crashing the glass proved to be the winning formula, highlighting the need for the Wolfpack to develop a more balanced approach to compete with the ACC's elite teams.