Miami basketball avoids blowing big lead beating Pittsburgh
The Miami basketball team went cold in the final 10 minutes of the game but held on for a 72-68 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon at the Watsco Center. Miami led 60-41 before Pittsburgh went on a 27-10 run to cut the deficit to two with 46 seconds remaining.
Norchad Omier blocked a three-point attempt by Jaland Lowe with two seconds left. Kyshawn George secured the rebound and made two free throws with one second remaining to secure the win. Miami was outstanding defensively for the first 29:30.
Pittsburgh shot 32.3 percent from the floor and made four of 17 three-point attempts in the first half. Miami shot 48.5 percent from the floor and made seven of its 18 first-half three-point attempts. Nijel Pack scored 12 points, made five of his 11 shots from the floor and made two of his five threes in the first half.
Pack was 2-8 and missed all four three-point attempts in the second half. Pittsburgh was able to come back in part because Pack scored only five points in the second half. Norchad Omier led Miami with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Pack and Wooga Poplar each scored 17 for Miami.
Blake Hinson, with 21 points and Lowe, with 17, fueled the Pittsburgh comeback. Lowe scored 15 points in the second half and Hinson had 10 in the final 20 minutes. Pittsburgh made 42.4 percent of its field goal attempts and 7-19 three-point attempts in the second half. Ishmael Leggett, with 14, was the only other Panther in double figures.
Next. Miami without Matthew Cleveland versus Pittsburgh. Miami without Matthew Cleveland versus Pittsburgh. dark
Miami improves to 14-6 overall and 5-4 in the ACC with the win. Pittsburgh drops to 12-8 overall and 3-6 in the ACC with the loss. Miami is back on the road at North Carolina State on Tuesday. The Wolfpack who are 13-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC play, at 13-6, 4-4 Syracuse on Saturday night.