Miami basketball survives late with ACC Tournament upset over Clemson
The Miami basketball team survived two late turnovers and held off Clemson as the 13th seeded Hurricanes defeated the fifth-seeded Tigers 67-64 in the ACC Tournament. Miami pulled off their second straight ACC Tournament upset a day after defeating 12th seeded Pittsburgh. Isaiah Wong led Miami with 20 points.
Miami earned its first win against Clemson this season after losing to the Tigers twice during the regular season. The Hurricanes ceased control of the game in the second half with a 16-2 run to take a 59-50 lead with 7:27 remaining. Clemson answered with a 14-6 run to cut the lead to 66-64 with 37 seconds remaining.
Two Al-Amir Dawes free throws cut the Miami lead to 65-64. Miami had a chance to put the game away in the final minutes, but turnovers by Anthony Walker with 38 seconds remaining and Isaiah Wong with 24 seconds left gave Clemson chances. Nick Honor missed a runner with nine seconds remaining and Wong got the rebound.
The game was close throughout with five ties and 11 lead changes. The largest lead for both teams was nine. Clemson had a nine-point lead in the first half before a 10-0 Hurricanes run gave Miami its first lead on a Nysier Brooks shot with 7:37 remaining. Clemson had a 36-32 lead at halftime.
The Tigers made eight of their 11 three-point shots in the first half. Miami who has struggled to defend the three this season held Clemson to four three-point shots on 12 attempts in the second half. Wong and Walker carried Miami in the second half with 13 and 10 points as the Hurricanes held on.
Kameron McGusty was the third Miami basketball player in double figures with 14. With the victory, Miami advances to the ACC Tournament quarterfinals since 2018. Miami had a bye through to the quarterfinals that season after finishing third in the conference during the regular season.
Next. Miami balance defeats Pittsburgh in ACC Tournament. dark
Miami advances to play fourth-seeded Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Hurricanes 87-60 Georgia Tech has won three of the past four games against Miami. The Hurricanes have won 14 games against 11 losses all-time against the Yellow Jackets. Miami and Georgia Tech tipoff at 2:30 PM ET on ESPN or ESPN2.