Miami basketball last minute collpase losing to Virgina Tech
The Miami basketball team allowed a 12-3 run by Virginia Tech in the last 1:43 losing 71-70. Miami finishes their home schedule with two straight losses at the Watsco Center. Virginia defeated Miami last Saturday. The Hurricanes fall a game behind North Carolina into fourth place in the ACC with the loss.
Miami had two turnovers in the final 40 seconds. Sean Pedulla had a steal for Virginia Tech with 40 left passed to Keve Aluma for a dunk to cut the Miami lead to 67-66. Jordan Miller made a layup on the subsequent inbounds pass to push the Miami lead back to three. Miller missed a free throw after getting fouled.
Charlie Moore split a pair of free throws with 25 seconds remaining to stretch the Miami lead to 70-66. The Hokies cut the lead to two on a Pedulla layup. Kameron McGusty‘s inbounds pass attempted for Sam Waardenburg was tipped. Darius Maddox subsequently made a three-point shot to put the Hokies ahead 71-70.
Waardenburg missed a three-point shot at the buzzer. Miami took the lead with 16:08 remaining and did not lose it until the game-winning shot by Maddox. The Hurricanes used an 18-7 run to end the first half to turn a 26-17 deficit into a 35-33 halftime lead. Miami held Virginia Tech scoreless for four minutes in the second half.
The Hokies’ drought came immediately before this last-minute run. Pedulla had six points and an assist in the final 1:32 to drive the Virginia Tech comeback and finished with 17 points. Keve Aluma led Virginia Tech with 18 points. Pelluma and Maddox who scored 13 both came off the Virginia Tech bench.
Miami had balanced scoring led by McGusty with 15. Isaiah Wong came off the bench to score 14, Moore had 12, Anthony Walker 11 and Waardenburg 10. The Hokies owned the boards with a 31-22 rebounding advantage. Miami balanced that out forcing 19 turnovers while committing only nine.
Miami will finish the season at Boston College on Wednesday and Syracuse next Saturday. The Hurricanes are still a game ahead of Virginia and Wake Forest for fourth place in the ACC and double-bye in the tournament. If Miami wins its last two games they will have a good opportunity to tie North Carolina for third.
Next. Miami basketball cruises to victory at Pittsburgh. dark
The Hurricanes own the tiebreaker with the Tar Heels after defeating North Carolina in Coral Gables in January. North Carolina plays at Duke next Saturday in the final home game ever for Mike Krzyzewski. Miami needs to close strong to continue its case for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2018.