Miami basketball escapes with big win at Central Florida
The Miami basketball team survived a frenetic final few minutes to emerge with a 66-64 win on Sunday at Central Florida. Miami won following the referees ruling the game was over after the clock was not started when UCF intentionally missed a free throw with 1.4 seconds remaining down two points.
The Knights had to intentionally miss the free throw after missing the first free throw following getting fouled by Norchad Omier with the 1.4 seconds remaining. Omier finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds. The double-double against UCF is the fourth during the 2022-23 season for Omier.
Miami had to hang on down the stretch. A Nijel Pack gave the Hurricanes a 61-53 lead with 2:56 remaining. Central Florida had a 6-0 run to cut the Miami lead to 61-59. A Jordan Miller layup with 1:11 left to extend the Miami lead to 63-59 were the last points Miami scored from the floor.
Omier and Isaiah Wong each split a pair of free throws to keep Miami in the lead. Miami led 32-26 at halftime, extended the lead to 13 in the second half and never trailed in the final 20 minutes. The Hurricanes closed the first half on a 17-6 run. Pack led Miami with 16 points in his most efficient game with the Hurricanes.
Pack shot 7-10 from the floor and 2-4 from the free-throw line. Wooga Poplar scored 12 and Jordan Miller 11 as four Hurricanes finished in double figures. Wong who leads Miami by averaging 14.3 points per game this season finished with eight. Darius Johnson led all scorers with 24 points.
The Miami women’s basketball team dropped a tough game on Sunday 78-71 to Columbia at home. Columbia outscored Miami 24-14 in the fourth quarter. Ja’Leah Williams led Miami with 28 points. Miami dropped to 6-2 after wins earlier this week at Loyola-Chicago and North Carolina A&T.
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Next up for the Miami basketball team is Rutgers in ACC-Big 10 Challenge on Wednesday night at the Watsco Center. The Miami women’s basketball team will host number 22 Michigan in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge. At 6-1, Miami should challenge to be ranked when the polls are released on Monday.