Miami basketball loses to Virginia Tech after key missed call late
The Miami basketball team was stung by a missed call at the end of regulation and lost 80-76 against Virginia Tech at the Watsco Center on Saturday afternoon. Hunter Cattoor appeared to step out of bounds according to the replay before making a three-point shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
Miami rallied and appear to take control of the game late. The Hurricanes had a one-point lead and the ball but failed to score. That set up a wild final 15 seconds. Justyn Mutts split a pair of free throws with 15 seconds remaining to tie the game. Isaiah Wong hit a deep three to give Miami a three-point lead with 2.4 seconds left.
Catoor then made the three to send the game to overtime. Wong came alive after halftime to score 16 of his 19 points in the second half to tie Elijah Olaniyi for the team lead. Justyn Mutts had a game-high 22 points for Virginia Tech to lead five Hokies in double figures. Four Hurricanes finished in double-figures.
Miami rallied from an 11 point deficit in the second half to get in a position to win. The Hurricanes comeback from a 59-48 deficit before taking their first lead of the second half, 68-66 on an emphatic Nysier Brooks dunk with 3:33 remaining. Miami would not trail again until overtime.
A Mutts layup 23 seconds into overtime gave Virginia Tech the lead. The Hokies never trailed in the extra period. Nahiem Alleyne who scored 10 points for Virginia Tech gave the Hokies the lead for good with 26 seconds remaining. A charging call on Olaniyi with six seconds remaining denied Miami a chance to tie the game.
Catoor made the ensuing two free throws and the Hokies swept Miami with an 80-76 victory in Coral Gables. Virginia Tech defeated Miami 80-78 earlier this season in Blacksburg. Kameron McGusty finished with 18 points and Brooks had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
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Miami has a short turnaround with a game at North Carolina on Tuesday night. The Hurricanes will attempt to avoid getting swept for a second time this season when they follow up the game in Chapel Hill with a trip to South Bend, Indiana to play Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish beat the Hurricanes 73-57 in Coral Gables last month.