Colorado dominated the Miami basketball team with a 33-21 advantage in rebounding and 52-30 in points in the paint in a 90-63 win in the NABC Brooklyn Showcase at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. Miami had 20 turnovers, Norchad Omier fouled out with 6:51 remaining and Colorado shot 21-30 in the second half.
The Miami basketball team went on a 10-3 run to end the first half and trailed 37-36 after the first 20 minutes. After taking a 46-43 lead 4:14 into the second half, Miami collapsed. Colorado answered the three-point deficit with a 9-0 run and never trailed. Miami could not match the size of Colorado.
Colorado 6’11 center Eddie Lampkin Jr. set the tone for the Buffaloes by scoring all 11 of his points in the first half. Tristan DaSilva nearly had a triple-double for Colorado with 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Six players for Colorado finished in double-figures led by DaSilva and K.J. Simpson with 20.
Matthew Cleveland led Miami with 17 points on 5-9 from the floor, 2-4 on threes and 5-5 from the free throw line. Norchad Omier had 12 points and five rebounds but fouled out with 6:51 remaining. Wooga Poplar scored 11 and Nijel Pack finished with seven. Miami did not get enough from Pack and Poplar.
Colorado simply overwhelmed Miami. Colorado outscored Miami 47-17 over the final 15:46 of the game. The Colorado run was reminiscent of Miami being outscored 47-15 in the second half by Kansas in the 2022 Midwest Regional Final in Chicago. Jim Larranaga has a lot to work on with the Hurricanes.
Beating the top teams in the ACC will take on added importance after Miami lost its two toughest non-conference games this season. Miami entered the game versus Colorado with a net rating of 36 and 15th in the national polls. Miami next plays a ranked team when they resume ACC play versus Clemson on January 3.
The Hurricanes are off until Saturday when they host 9-2 LaSalle. Miami hosts Stonehill on December 21 and North Florida on December 29. Wake Forest will host Miami in the Hurricanes’ first ACC road game this season on January 6. Miami will fall in the Netratings and plummet in the polls after the loss to Colorado.