Miami basketball fades late losing to Notre Dame
The Miami basketball team lost for the sixth time in its last seven games and was swept by Notre Dame this season after a 71-61 loss in South Bend. Notre Dame closed the game with a 17-7 run over the last 6:22 seconds. The game was tied at halftime and competitive until the Hurricanes faded down the stretch.
Isaiah Wong led Miami by reaching his season average with 17 points. Anthony Walker scored 14 and added 10 rebounds, Kameron McGusty 12 and Elijah Olaniyi 11 as the only Miami basketball players in double figures. Notre Dame also had four players in double figures led by Nikola Djogo with 18.
Djogo had been averaging 4.5 points per game. Miami continued to play shorthanded with Chris Lykes sitting out after suffering a setback in practice on Thursday. Miami used primarily a six-man rotation against Notre Dame. Center Deng Gak played three minutes on Sunday. Four Hurricanes played over 30 minutes.
Notre Dame went only seven deep but was able to balance the minutes better. Two Fighting Irish players played over 30 minutes with the other five playing between 22 and 26 minutes. After having eight days off prior to playing Notre Dame, Miami will be off again until Saturday. Miami hosts Georgia Tech at noon Saturday.
Miami falls to 3-11 with the loss in a virtual tie with 1-9 Boston College for 14th and last in the ACC. The Eagles defeated the Hurricanes earlier this year. Injuries have decimated Miami for the second straight season. Four scholarship players were missing for Miami on Sunday night in South Bend.
Following Georgia Tech on Saturday, the Hurricanes will host Florida State on February 24. The Hurricanes lost in Tallahassee last month. Notre Dame improves to 9-10 overall, 6-7 in the ACC, Miami falls to 7-12 overall. Miami hosts Boston College on March 5 in the final game of the regular season.
Miami was brutal shooting at every level against Notre Dame. The Hurricanes shot 32.4 percent from the floor, made just five of their 22 three-point attempts and just 12-21 from the free-throw line. Miami did a good job defensively against Notre Dame on three-point attempts holding the Fighting Irish to 7-29.
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Notre Dame shot 44.4 percent from the floor and made eight of their 10 free throw attempts. The Fighting Irish made 21-34 shots from inside the arc. Miami took good care of the ball with only five turnovers but had just seven assists. Notre Dame had a 16 to 10 assist to turnover ratio.