Miami basketball falls to UCF after trailing nearly entire game
The Miami basketball team held the lead for only 35 seconds on Saturday in a 95-89 loss at the Watsco Center to Central Florida. Miami took the lead 11 seconds into the game on a Sam Waardenburg jumper and never led again. A Darin Green three-point shot put Central Florida ahead to stay 35 seconds later.
Star guard Isaiah Wong got off to another slow start with only two points in the first half as the Miami basketball team trailed UCF 43-35 at halftime. The Hurricanes fell behind 27-13 in the first half before a 10-1 run cut the deficit to five. UCF was able to extend the lead back to 11 with a six to zero run.
The Hurricanes were able to get back within eight at halftime. A nine to zero run by the Knights to begin the second half gave UCF a comfortable lead they would maintain throughout the remainder of the game. Miami was able to get within three on a layup by Jordan Miller with 9.9 seconds remaining before a turnover.
Anthony Walker threw the subsequent in bounds pass out of bounds, UCF made two free throws and Miami missed a Sam Waardenburg three-point attempt to lose by six. Wong scored 18 in the second half to bounce back from three straight halves where he struggled. Kameron McGusty scored 28 after 20 points in the opener.
Waardenburg scored 16 and Walker 12. McGusty scored 14 of his points on 17 free throw attempts. Green led four Knights in double figures with 22. C.J. Walker had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Miami shot 28 percent from the floor in the first half and made two of 15 three-point attempts.
Free throws kept Miami in the game in the first half. The Hurricanes were 19-23 from the line in the opening 20 mintues. McGusty scored 14 of the 35 Miami points in the first half. Wong came alive in the second half after the hot start for UCF after halftime. Miami shot 59.4 percent in the second half.
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The Hurricanes were not able to get enough stops as Central Florida shot 50.0 percent for the game, were 11-27 on three-point attempts and made 24-27 free throws. Miami finished the game 31-39 from the line, The Hurricanes host Florida Atlantic at the Watsco Center on Tuesday at 6:00 PM.