Matthew Cleveland scored a career-high 32 points to lead Miami to its second consecutive home win with a 91-84 victory over Syracuse on Tuesday night. Freshman Jalil Bethea also scored a career-high 21 points. The game was close throughout, with Miami leading by nine multiple times.
Two Bethea free throws with 8:42 remaining put Miami in front 63-61 for good in the middle of an 8-0 run that extended the Miami lead to 66-61. Syracuse made it a one-possession game in the second half a few times before Paul Djobet scored five straight points for Miami before and after there were five minutes left in the game.
For the second consecutive home game, Miami closed out the game down the stretch with Bethea, Cleveland and A.J. Staton-McCray scoring key points in the final four minutes. Djobet scored 13 points and Divine Ugochukwu scored 10 as the other Miami players in double figures.
Cleveland continued to play efficiently, making 10 of his 13 shots from the field, two of his four 3-point attempts and going 10 of 12 from the free-throw line with three rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks. Miami shot 55.4 percent from the floor, made 10 of its 20 3-point attempts and 19 of 23 free throws.
J.J. Starling led Syracuse with 25 points, Eddie Lampkin Jr. scored 22 and had a game-high 13 rebounds and scored 14 off the bench for Syracuse. Syracuse shot 45.5 percent from the floor and made eight of 21 3-point attempts and 16 of its 17 free-throw attempts.
Miami returns to the road at Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Hurricanes are seeking their first road win this season. Pittsburgh lost 83-63 at SMU on Tuesday night to drop to 14-10. The Panthers have lost four games in a row to fall to 5-7 in the ACC. Miami has won four of the last five versus Pittsburgh, but lost the last time on the road.