Miami basketball overwhelmed in second half loss at Florida State
After playing well in the first half at Florida State, the Miami basketball team was overwhelmed in the second half as the Seminoles pulled away to a 99-81 victory in Tallahassee.
The Miami basketball team kept it close in the first half heading to the locker room down 50-47 after 20 minutes. The Hurricanes were unable to keep it competitive in the second half despite junior guards Chris Lykes and Kameron McGusty who were clearly not healthy after missing or being limited in the past four games.
Lykes returned after sitting out the past four games and McGusty was back after missing three of the past four games scoring three against Virginia Tech in 23 minutes in the only game he did play. Miami continued to be shorthanded after getting Lykes and McGusty back. Center Rodney Miller was out with an ankle injury.
Miami has not been healthy since early January. The Hurricanes got off to a great start. Miami led Florida State 10-2 less than three minutes into the game. Florida State answered with a 13-4 run of their own to take a 15-14 lead. The score would seesaw for the remainder of the first half with FSU taking a 50-47 lead at halftime.
The Hurricanes went scoreless for four minutes in the second half as the Seminoles extended their lead to11 points. Lykes played nearly 21 minutes, McGusty just under 8.5. Miami was led by Isaiah Wong who was efficient scoring with 23 points on 8-12 field goals, 2-2 on three=point attempts and 5-6 from the free-throw line.
Six turnovers by Wong and three by fellow freshman Harlond Beverly plagued Miami. Beverly scored 14 but shot just 3-13 from the floor. Sam Waardenburg finished with 15 points on 4-4 from the floor and 6-6 from the free-throw line and Dejan Vasiljevic contributed 12. Lykes added eight and McGusty was scoreless.
Florida State simply had too much firepower in wearing down Miami to improve to 20-3 and 10-2 in the ACC. Thirteen Seminoles scored including four in double figures. Florida State was led by M.J. Walker and Patrick Williams with 14 each. Lights out shooting led a proficient Seminoles offense.
Florida State shot 53 percent from the floor, made 13-26 on three-point attempts and 16-17 from the free-throw line. Without Miller, Miami had to help in the post and the perimeter defense suffered. The Miami schedule easies up with Florida State behind them. Miami does not play a ranked team for the remainder of the season.
Miami gets Lykes, McGusty back, Miller out versus FSU. dark. Next
The Hurricanes are home this week. The Miami basketball team hosts Boston College on Wednesday night and Wake Forest next Saturday. The Hurricanes are last in the ACC with a 3-10 record. North Carolina and Wake Forest at 3-9 play later on Saturday. Boston College is 12-12 overall and 6-7 in the ACC.