Miami Hurricanes Open Season with win Over DII Barry University
The Miami Hurricanes opened the 2016-17 season with a win over Division Two Barry University 72-63 in an exhibition opener.
Miami scheduling Barry as their opening game for an exhibition was a good challenge. The Buccaneers advanced to the NCAA Division Two Elite Eight last season. The DII Elite Eight is equivalent to reaching the Final Four in Division One.
Once Division Two gets down to its final eight teams they all gather in one location for the quarterfinals through the championship game, similar to Final Four in D1.
The Buccaneers are a better team than many of the teams on the Hurricanes non-conference schedule. Those games will count towards the UM record.
The Hurricanes got off to a great start with a 30-15 lead on a Davon Reed three-point field goal with seven minutes left in the first half. Reed is Miami’s leading returning scorer and a lot is expected from him this year.
Reed delivered against the Buccaneers. He finished with 21 points on eight of 11 from the floor and five of six on threes. The Senior captain added four rebounds and two assists from the two guard spot, but also had four fouls.
Miami finished with 20 personal fouls to Barry’s 26. Jim Larranaga had to be concerned with the foul trouble, particularly from his backcourt. Reed’s backcourt mates starting point guard Ja’Quan Newton and backup combo guard, freshman Bruce Brown also had four fouls each.
Despite the early hole, the Bucs fought back, narrowing the gap to 38-31 at halftime. Reed carried the ‘Canes in the first half. He had 13 of his 21 points and hit on three of four from beyond the arc before the break.
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No other Hurricane reached double figures in the first half, but Reed’s classmate Kamari Murphy finished with six points and six rebounds. Reed, Murphy, and Newton are this year’s tri-captains.
Miami extended the lead to nine less than a minute into the second half, but the Buccaneers would not go silently into the night. Barry cut it to two on a Sawyer Glick three-point field goal with 8:53 remaining.
Miami went on a 13-2 run over the next 5:14 to push the lead to 12. The ‘Canes would extend the lead to 72-57 with 1:17 left, and Miami closed out with a 73-62 victory.
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Eight Hurricanes played double figures in minutes, led by Small Forward Anthony Lawrence’s 36 and Reed’s 35. Reed’s 21 points led Miami and Newton finished with 18. Brown was the only other Hurricane in double figures with 10 and he added six rebounds.
Murphy and Lawrence led the ‘Canes on the glass with seven boards each. Sophomore Center Ebuka Izundu had a nice game inside with Eight Points, Seven Rebounds, two assists and a block without committing a foul.
Sawyer Glick led Barry with 18 points, hitting six of ten threes and contributing five rebounds. Elvar Fridriksson had 17 points, hitting on five of his eight three-point attempts and adding another five board. Glick and Fridrilsson led the Bucs on the glass.
The Hurricanes held Barry to 20-60 from the floor, but they shot 13-35 on threes, something that Jim Larranaga has to be concerned with. Opponents shot 33.2 percent from beyond the arc last season against Miami. That was 101st out of 332 teams nationally.
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The Hurricanes will play their regular season opener at home November 11 against Western Carolina.