Miami basketball crippled by turnovers and missed FTs in loss to Clemson
Two turnovers in the last minute and a pair of missed front end of one and ones at the free-throw line cost the Miami basketball team in a 66-65 loss to Clemson on Saturday.
The Miami basketball team failed to hold a four-point lead with just over a minute to go and lost 66-65 to Clemson on Saturday afternoon. Two turnovers in the final minute doomed the Hurricanes in the loss. Leading 65-64 with 42 seconds remaining, Elijah Olaniyi had a turnover to give Clemson the ball.
An Aamir Simms runner in the lane provided the final points of the game with 19 seconds remaining. Trying to make a play to create a shot to go ahead, senior guard Kameron McGusty had the ball stripped by Nick Honor of Clemson. Honor got Clemson to within one on a three-point shot with 1:05 remaining.
Miami rallied in the first half from a 21-9 deficit to take a 34-32 lead at halftime. Miami did not make enough plays down the stretch. Twice in the second half, Miami missed the front end of one and ones from the free-throw line and the three-point shot by honor came off a scramble following an offensive rebound.
If Miami had secured the rebound the Hurricanes would have had the ball up four with just over a minute remaining. Clemson would have likely been fouling Miami the remainder of the game. Clemson was then able to play straight-up defense following the shot by Honor. Miami came close to a miraculous finish.
The Hurricanes turned Clemson over following the McGusty turnover. Miami got the ball back with 0.3 seconds remaining. Freshman forward Matt Cross threw the ball the length of the court. Sophomore guard Isaiah Wong caught the ball, turned and his shot rolled off the rim resulting in the one-point loss.
Wong led Miami with 13 points, freshman wing Earl Timberlake had 11, Olaniyi and sophomore guard Harlond Beverly each contributed 10. Simms was the only Tigers player in double figures with 25 points and he also had seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Miami drops to 4-4 overall and 0-3 in the ACC.
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The Hurricanes are scheduled to host North Carolina on Tuesday night in a tough challenge to get their first ACC win of the season. With everything in the last 10 months, schedules are subject to change. Clemson and Miami were fortunate to get the game in on Saturday afternoon. Four ACC games were canceled Saturday.