Miami basketball loses second straight at Virginia
The Miami basketball team lost their second straight game for the first time this season with a 71-58 loss at Virginia. Virginia used a 7-0 run in the first half to take a 14-10 lead and never trailed after that. The Cavaliers scored the last five points of the first half to lead 35-26 at halftime.
Virginia never trailed by less than seven in the second half, pulling away gradually. The Cavaliers shot 60 percent and make eight out of their 15 three-point attempts. Miami shot 54 percent but made only four out of 17 three-point attempts. Kameron McGusty led Miami with 21 points and Charlie Moore scored 17.
The Miami basketball team did not shoot a free throw for the first time as an ACC team. Virginia made all three of their attempts. Isaiah Wong failed to reach double figures for the second time in the last three games with six points. Miami trailed by as many as 21 in the second half before ending the game on an 8-0 run.
Wong made just three of nine from the floor. Virginia was led by Armaan Franklin with 22. Virginia won consecutive games for the first time since early January. The Cavaliers alternated wins and losses in their last nine games. The 60 percent shooting was the second-worst allowed by Miami this season.
Wake Forest shot 61.5 percent in a 92-84 loss to Miami on New Year’s Day. Miami entered the game at Virginia allowing opponents to shoot 45.4 percent which ranks 301st nationally. The Hurricanes were 293rd nationally allowing opponents to shoot 35.4 percent on three-point attempts entering Saturday.
Miami is going to have to improve defensively if they are going to continue its quest to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. The Hurricanes return home on Wednesday hoping for the season sweep against Georgia Tech. Miami won 73-62 at Georgia Tech last Saturday.