Miami basketball comeback falls short at North Carolina

The Miami basketball team went on a late 11-0 run before falling short in a 75-71 loss at North Carolina on Monday night. Miami lost its seventh straight game. Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar did not play for Miami. R.J. Davis became the latest player to scorch Miami finishing with 42 points.

Davis finished 14-22 from the floor and made 7-11 three-point attempts. No one else for North Carolina scored in double figures. Miami was led by Norchad Omier with 22, Bensley Joseph scored a career-high with 21 and Kyshawn George had 14. George scored 11 of his points in the first nine minutes of the game.

Miami fell behind 72-59 with 6:50 left in the game. The 11-0 Miami run followed. Miami pulled within 72-70 with 1:32 remaining. Omier missed a hook shot in the lane with 46 seconds remaining that would have tied the game. North Carolina hit three free throws wrapped around one by Joseph to secure the win.

Joseph had maybe his best performance in a Miami uniform. In addition to the 21 points, Joseph had six rebounds and five assists. George and Joseph were the primary ballhandlers for Miami with Pack and Poplar sidelined. Matthew Cleveland finished with a double-double for Miami, scoring 10 points and adding 11 rebounds.

Davis carried North Carolina. Other than Davis, North Carolina shot 13-39 from the floor, made two of their 15 three-point shots and were 5-12 from the free throw line. Miami had a chance to tie it late after the Omier miss. North Carolina missed four straight free throws in the final minute before Jae'lyn Withers made two to secure the win.

Miami is off until March 6 when they host Boston College. The Hurricanes will finish the season on March 9 at Florida State. Miami will likely begin the ACC Tournament in the first round on March 12 at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. Miami falls to 15-14 overall and 6-12 in the ACC with the loss to North Carolina.