Miami Hurricanes coach Jai Lucas discusses win over Virginia Tech

Lucas praises team's resilience in close victory over ACC rival

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Miami Hurricanes men's basketball head coach Jai Lucas spoke to reporters following his team's narrow 67-66 victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday. The Hurricanes were led by Tre Donaldson's career-high 32 points, including a go-ahead free throw in the final seconds to secure the win.

Why it matters

This was an important conference win for the Hurricanes, who are looking to solidify their position in the ACC standings and make a push for the NCAA Tournament. Lucas' comments provide insight into how the team was able to grind out a close victory against a tough conference opponent.

The details

In his postgame press conference, Lucas praised his team's resilience and ability to make plays down the stretch to pull out the victory. He highlighted Donaldson's standout performance and the team's defensive effort in the closing moments to hold off Virginia Tech's comeback attempt.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

Jai Lucas

Head coach of the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team.

Tre Donaldson

A Miami Hurricanes player who scored a career-high 32 points in the win over Virginia Tech.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really proud of our guys and the way they competed tonight. It wasn't always pretty, but we found a way to get the job done against a tough conference opponent.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach (247sports.com)

The takeaway

This close victory over Virginia Tech demonstrates the Hurricanes' ability to win tough, grind-it-out games against conference rivals, which will be crucial as they continue their push for the NCAA Tournament.