Miami basketball loses ACC Tournament semifinal to Duke
The Miami basketball team lost 80-76 to Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals. Kameron McGusty scored 24 points, Jordan Miller 17 with 13 rebounds and Charlie Moore 15 to keep Miami close. Duke and Miami were tied 36 all at halftime. Isaiah Wong finished with seven points and shot just one for 11 from the floor.
Most of the points from Wong came on late free throws. Duke was led by A.J. Griffin with 21 points, Paulo Banchero with 18 and 11 rebounds and Wendell Moore was 17. Free throws played a huge difference in the outcome. Duke was 17-22 from the floor, Miami 6-12. Miami made six of their last 12 free throw attempts.
After Duke opened the scoring with a five to three lead, Miami went on a 15-2 run to surge in front 18-7. Duke would eventually tie the score at 22. Miami answered with a 10 to two run to take a 32-24 lead with 4:19 remaining in the first half. Duke closed the first half with their own 10 to two run to tie the score at halftime.
Duke held the lead for nearly 12 minutes of the second half before a McGusty three-point shot gave Miami a 62-61 lead with 6:07 remaining. Duke grabbed the lead back quickly with a Moore jumper 23 seconds later. A Sam Waardenburg three tied the game at 65 before two Jeremy Roach free throws put Duke ahead to stay.
Duke made 13 of their 16 free throw attempts in the final 4:42 as Miami fouled to stay in the game. Miami falls to 23-10 with the loss. The Miami basketball team will return home from Brooklyn and await their NCAA Tournament fate. Miami has been projected between a nine and 11 seed by bracketologists recently.
Next. Miami advances to first ACC Tournament semifinal since 2016. dark
Duke advances to the ACC Tournament Championship Game and awaits the winner of North Carolina and Virginia Tech in the second semifinal on Friday night. The Blue Devils improve to 28-5 and avenge their loss to Miami at Cameron Indoor Stadium in January. Duke is projected to be a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament.