Miami basketball falters in second half losing 67-65 to North Carolina
The Miami basketball team suffered their third straight one-possession loss losing 67-65 to North Carolina on Tuesday night.
North Carolina outscored the Miami basketball team 17 to six in the last 6:14 to rally for a 67-65 victory on Tuesday night at the Watsco Center. The Hurricanes lost their third straight game by one possession. A turnover in the final minute did Miami in for the second straight game.
Freshman forward Matt Cross lost the ball out of bonus with 45 seconds remaining and Miami trailing 65-63. The Hurricanes got a defensive stop and Isaiah Wong runner with 16 seconds remaining to tie the game. North Carolina did not call a timeout and Andrew Platek scored the game-winner with three seconds left.
Three-point shooting continued to plague Miami. The Hurricanes shot 3-16 beyond the arc. Miami was able to compensate for that by making 18-22 from the free-throw line. The Hurricanes went cold down the stretch making two of their last 17 shots. Freshman Earl Timberlake led Miami with 12 points.
Timberlake and sophomore guard Harlond Beverly combined to shoot 6-27 from the floor. Elijah Olaniyi with 11 and Nysier Brooks with 10 were the only other Miami players in double figures. Sophomore Isaiah Wong had a 15 game double-figure scoring streak broken that stretched back to last season.
Wong finished with eight points on 3-8 from the floor and 2-2 from the free-throw line. Six Miami basketball players finished with at least nine points. Junior guard Leaky Black led North Carolina with 16 points and nine rebounds on 6-9 from the floor and 4-4 on three-pointers.
Black had three three-point shots made this season entering the game Tuesday night. Kerwin Walton had 13 and Day’Ron Sharpe had 12 for the Tar Heels. North Carolina improved to 7-4 overall, 2-2 in the ACC. Miami is 4-5 overall and drops to 0-4 and sole possession of last place in the ACC.
Next. Miami crippled by turnovers in lost to Clemson. dark
After playing eight of their first nine games of the season at home, Miami plays five of their next seven on the road. That stretch begins at North Carolina State on Saturday. Head coach Jim Larranaga said before the game Tuesday night they expect to get Kam McGusty back Saturday. No word on when Chris Lykes will return.