Miami basketball uses midgame 21-0 run to blowout Stetson

The Miami basketball team used a 21-0 run spanning the first and second halves and defeated Stetson 82-60 on Friday night to improve to 2-0.

A 21-0 run spanning the first and second halves extended a 28-27 lead for the Miami basketball team with 3:48 remaining in the first half to a 49-27 lead two minutes into the second half in an 82-60 win over Stetson on Friday night. Senior Chris Lykes bounced back from a tough outing in the season opener to score 20 points.

Lykes shot 5-9 from the floor, 3-5 on threes with four rebounds and five assists, but left in the second half with an ankle injury and did not return. Lykes was questionable to return and was likely kept out because the game was not in doubt. Freshman Matt Cross had his second straight impressive performance

Cross finished with 11 points and three rebounds for his second straight game in double figures but also left the game in the second half with an injury. Sophomore guard Isaiah Wong had 17 points and 12 rebounds and redshirt senior Kameron McGusty had 11 to round out four Miami players in double figures.

Mahamadou Diawara finished with 14 points and six rebounds and Chase Johnston came off the bench to score 19 points including five three-point field goals late in the game with all but the final score decided. Miami won for the 10th straight time over Stetson since the Miami basketball program returned in 1985-86.

Miami dominated Stetson on the boards outrebounding the Hatters 49-29 led by Wong. Graduate transfer Nysier Brooks finished with eight points and eight rebounds and sophomore Harlond Beverly with his second straight strong performance on the board with eight rebounds to go with five points and six assists.

The schedule gets much more difficult for Miami in their next game on Tuesday. The Hurricanes host Purdue on the ACC-Big 10 Challenge in the Watsco Center at 5 PM. The Boilermakers have started the 2020-21 season 3-1. Purdue finished the 2019-20 season 16-15.