The Miami basketball team nearly had a miraculous comeback in an 80-78 loss to Virginia Tech in the first road game of the season.
Playing their first road game of the 2020-21 season, the Miami basketball team nearly rallied from a 17 point deficit before losing 80-78 at Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. Tipping off 30 mins after the Hurricanes football team kicked off in the Cheez-it Bowl, the Hurricanes hoops team was overshadowed on Tuesday night.
Five Hurricanes finished in double figures on Tuesday night as Miami head coach Jim Larranaga went with a different starting lineup against the Hokies. Sophomore forward Anthony Walker got the start over freshman Matt Cross who came off the bench. Cross and Isaiah Wong led Miami with 16 points each.
Miami rallied late in the second half after trailing by as many as 17. The Hurricanes trailed by seven with a minute remaining. A three-point field goal by Cross cut the deficit to 77-73 with 49 seconds remaining. After a missed free throw by Virginia Tech, Wong made two free throws to cut the lead to 77-75.
Two Nahiem Alleyne free throws with 37 seconds remaining were followed by a three-point field goal by Harlond Beverly for Miami with 28 seconds remaining. Miami had two chances to tie or take the lead in the final five seconds. Wong missed a three with five seconds left, followed by a Nysier Brooks turnover on the next possession.
The Brooks turnover ended the game with an 80-78 Hokies victory. Beverly finished with 14, Elijah Olaniyi 11 and Brooks 10 for Miami. Keke Aluma led Virginia Tech with 26 and Justyn Mutts had 15 as four Hokies finished in double figures. Virginia Tech finished with a 21-10 advantage in free throw attempts.
The Hokies made just 13 to 10 for Miami. Both teams shot the ball well with Miami making 10-25 three-point attempts and Virginia Tech 9-23. Miami had 19 turnovers to 11 for Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes will resume play on Saturday when they host Clemson. Miami drops to 4-3 overall, 0-2 in the ACC with the loss.