Miami basketball holds on winning ACC/Big 10 Challenge at Penn State
In a second half of runs, the Miami basketball team held on late for a 63-58 win at Penn State on Wednesday night. The Hurricanes improve to 5-3 with the win and Penn State falls to 4-3 with the loss. Sam Waardenburg led Miami with 14 points and Kam McGusty, Charlie Moore and Isaiah Wong each scored 12.
Penn State was led by John Harrar with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Miami secured the victory in the final minute-plus. A huge offensive rebound by Jordan Miller with 1:02 remaining gave Miami another possession. McGusty made a three with 38 seconds remaining provided the final points of the game.
Miami held Penn State to 43.4 percent from the floor and just six of 24 on three-point attempts. The Hurricanes shot 43.1 percent from the floor and made nine of their 25 three-point attempts. Waardenburg made three three-point shots in the first few minutes of the game to carry Miami offensively.
Miami overcame a 38-27 rebounding deficit by committing eight turnovers to 14 for Penn State. The Hurricanes led 29-23 at halftime after a 9-2 run to finish the first half. Miami extended the lead to 38-30 early in the second half. Penn State answered with a 15-2 run to take a 45-40 lead with 12:16 remaining.
Miami followed the Penn State run with their own 14-3 stretch. The Hurricanes stretched the lead to seven with 2:41 remaining. Miami led for the final eight minutes. The win was a needed one for Miami after a 32 point loss to Alabama on Sunday. Miami returns home to begin ACC play against Clemson on Saturday.
Clemson lost their ACC-Big 10 Challenge game 74-64 at Rutgers. The Tigers travel to the Watsco Center matching Miami’s 5-3 record. The win over Penn State was the most complete game Miami has played this season against a high-level opponent. Six out of the next seven Miami basketball games are at home.
Next. Miami dominated in second half loss to Alabama. dark
Miami has non-conference games against Lipscomb, Fordham at Stetson before resuming ACC play against North Carolina State on December 29 and then hosts Wake Forest on New Year’s Day. North Carolina State won their ACC Big 10 Challenge Game on Thursday night at Nebraska. Wake Forest defeated Northwestern.