The Miami basketball team won a critical game over Syracuse on Saturday to clinch a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament late this week.
The Miami basketball team rallied from a five-point second-half deficit after missing 12 straight shots after intermission and held off Syracuse 69-65 in overtime for a critical victory on Saturday. The Hurricanes win sets them up with a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament. Their opponent on Wednesday is yet to be announced.
Miami will play Clemson is the first round of the ACC Tournament on Thursday. The Hurricanes defeated the Tigers on the road on New Year’s Eve for their first ACC victory this season. The Hurricanes finished the regular season 15-15, 7-13 and ninth in the ACC. Clemson is also 15-15 and went 9-11 in the ACC.
Miami received a first-round bye in the conference tournament because of Georgia Tech being on probation and banned from playing. The game on Saturday between Syracuse and the Miami basketball team was competitive throughout. The largest lead for both teams on Saturday was six points.
The starting backcourt of freshman Isaiah Wong, junior Kameron McGusty and senior Dejan Vasijevic playing his final home game on senior day, carried the Hurricanes. Wong led Miami with 18, Vasiljevic finished with 17 and McGusty added 13.
🙌>🍊
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) March 7, 2020
Did it for the seniors. pic.twitter.com/PVqWeYDN5G
Vasiljevic reverted to his freshman form of all his attempts from the field coming on 5-13 shooting on three-point attempts. Miami played without junior point guard Chris Lykes who missed the game against Syracuse with an elbow to his nose suffered on Wednesday.
It is unknown if Lykes will be ready to play Wednesday in the ACC Tournament after sustaining an elbow to his nose from teammate Sam Waardenburg that required a trip to the emergency room Wednesday night. After falling behind by four in the first half Miami went on a 13-3 run later in the opening 20 minutes to take control.
Syracuse rallied and a three-point shot by Buddy Boeheim, the son of Orange head coach Jim Boeheim, cut the Hurricanes lead to 26-24 at the half. Wong made a three-point shot to put Miami in front 29-24 early in the second half. Miami went nearly the next eight mintues without a field goal. Syracuse also went cold in that time frame.
It’s officially #ACCTourney Time!
— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 8, 2020
Here's the bracket ↓↓ pic.twitter.com/JNRl6siTQx
The Orange were only able to outscore Miami 9-1 during that eight-minute stretch to take a 33-30 lead. A Vasiljevic three-point shot ended the drought. After the Aussie tied the game, Syracuse again surged in front by six points. Miami billowed in front late before losing a four-point lead with 16.7 seconds remaining in regulation.
Wong made two free throws to put Miami in front 56-52 and seemingly put the game away for the Hurricanes. A Joseph Girard layup with eight seconds remaining, a Waardenburg miss on the front end of a one-and-one and another clutch shot by Girard tied the game and sent it to overtime.
Two Wong free throws began the overtime and gave Miami the lead for good but not without more drama. Syracuse pulled within one possession several times in overtime but Miami was able to answer each time to put the game away. Miami is locked in as the 10th seed in the ACC Tournament Wednesday at 7 PM.