Miami basketball opens ACC play beating Notre Dame
The Miami basketball team began ACC play with a 62-49 victory over Notre Dame. Miami regained the lead with 6:50 remaining in the first half and never trailed in the remainder of the game. The Hurricanes improved to 6-1 with the win. Notre Dame drops to 3-4 with the loss. Three Hurricanes finished in double figures.
Notre Dame went on a 7-0 run early to take a 10-5 lead. Miami answered with a 12-4 spurt to surge in front 17-14. Notre Dame took its last lead of the game at 20-19. Miami answered with a 12-0 run to take the lead for good. Notre Dame competed throughout. Miami was not able to put the game away until the final minutes.
Miami held Notre Dame to 28.6 percent from the floor and the Fighting Irish shot 6-32 on three-point attempts. Notre Dame stayed in the game with a 14 to six edge in offensive rebounds. Miami controlled the game with a 16-0 advantage in fast break points. This was the best defensive performance by Miami this season.
The 49 points Notre Dame scored were the least allowed by the Miami basketball team this season. Notre Dame missed its last 10 shots from the floor, made only one of its last 13 field goal attempts and did not score in the last 5:21. Defense won the game for Miami. The Hurricanes only scored four points in the final 5:21.
Miami was led by Matthew Cleveland with 14 points. Norchad Omier and Nijel Pack each scored 13. Omier had his third double-double of the season with 13 rebounds. Notre Dame was led by J.R. Konieczny with 14 points. Konieczny made four of his nine shots from the floor and four of his seven three-point attempts.
Next. Miami rebounded after blowout losses last 2 seasons. dark
Miami will not resume ACC play until they host Clemson on January 3. After hosting LIU on Wednesday, Miami has its last big non-conference test versus Colorado on December 9 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. Miami is expected to drop in the rankings released on Monday following Tuesday’s loss to Kentucky.