Miami basketball clamps down defensively in second half to defeat North Carolina State
The Miami basketball team used a late 18-2 run to put the game away in a 91-83 victory over North Carolina State at the Watsco Center on Wednesday night. The Wolfpack went 5:31 without a field goal in the second half that allowed Miami to come from behind and take control of the game.
Kameron McGusty with 16 and Jordan Miller with 12 kept Miami in the game in the first half. North Carolina State led 41-40 at halftime. Isaiah Wong led the second-half surge for Miami with 15 points in the final 20 minutes. Miller scored his Miami high with 25 points, McGusty had 20 and Wong 19.
The Hurricanes turned around a 26-14 rebounding deficit in the first half to outboard the Wolfpack 18-14 in the final 20 minutes. Miami rallied from an eight-point second-half deficit to earn the eight-point victory. Anthony Walker had his best game since the second game of the season with 11 points and four rebounds.
Miami was missing starting center Sam Waardenburg and backup freshman guard Wooga Poplar who were in Covid protocols. Walker played 23 minutes and Deng Gak 16 to compensate for the lost minutes with Waardenburg out. Miami missed Waardenburg’s size upfront but compensated in the second half.
The following members of the Miami basketball program are unavailable for today’s game against NC State, in accordance with COVID protocols. Miami is adhering to the ACC Medical Advisory Group report.
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) December 30, 2021
- Wooga Poplar
- Sam Waardenburg
McGusty led Miami with 11 rebounds. Charlie Moore and Bensley Joseph each contributed seven points for Miami. The Hurricanes finished the night shooting 55.4 percent from the floor and made 10-19 three-point attempts. Miami held NC State to 41.7 percent from the floor and 8-27 on three-point attempts.
The Hurricanes improve to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in the ACC with the victory. NC State drops to 7-6 overall and 0-2 in the ACC. Miami heads into the new year with a six-game winning streak. The Hurricanes next host Wake Forest on Saturday. Miami will then conclude a three-game ACC homestand with Syracuse on January 5.
Next. Miami basketball has tough January schedule. dark
The Hurricanes begin a tough road stretch at Duke on January 8. The game in Durham is followed by a trip to Tallahassee to play Florida State on January 11 and then the Hurricanes host North Carolina on January 18 and the Seminoles on January 25. The Hurricanes have a tough January upcoming.