Miami basketball dominates Kansas State winning Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship

The Miami basketball team dominated throughout beating Kansas State 91-83 to win the Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship. Nijel Pack scorched his former team with 28 points on 9-16 from the floor and 7-12 threes. Bensley Joseph was the only Miami starter who did not finish in double figures with three points.

Norchad Omier had 23 points and seven rebounds, Matthew Cleveland scored 15 on 7-10 from the floor and Wooga Poplar finished with 15 on 5-9 from the floor, 3-5 threes and had six rebounds. Kansas State made a late run but the Miami basketball team was able to hold off the Wildcats off to improve to 5-0 this season.

Miami led by as many as 24 at 57-33 with 16:20 in the second half. Kansas State cut the deficit to seven at 85-78 with 45 seconds remaining. Cam Carter led four Kansas State players in double figures with 28 points and Arthur Kaluma had 18 points with 12 rebounds. Kansas State got hot in the second half.

After shooting 40 percent in the first half, Kansas State made 56.8 percent of its shots in the second half. Miami held Kansas State for 4-28 on three-point attempts. Kansas State finished the game shooting 49.3 percent and made 13 of its 17 free throw attempts. Kansas State outscored Miami 55-44 in the second half.

Miami built a 47-28 halftime lead by shooting 58.1 percent from the floor, making 9-16 three-point attempts and holding Kansas State to 1-15 on threes. Pack scored 20 points in the first half on 7-12 from the floor and 6-10 threes. Omier scored 11 and Poplar 10 in the first half as Miami seemed to be in control.

A 10-5 run to start the second half seemed to put Kansas State away. Kansas State outscored Miami 50-34 over the final 16:20. Omier carried Miami in the final two minutes with eight points, including making all six of his free throws. Miami finished the game shooting 53.3 percent, made 12-24 threes and 15-18 free throws.

Miami will be off for nine days following the win over Kansas State. In one of the biggest regular season games in program history, Miami will play at Kentucky on November 28 in the inaugural ACC-SEC Challenge. The ACC-SEC Challenge replaces the ACC-Big 10 Challenge that ended after last season.