Miami Hurricanes Basketball Impressive in 93-77 Win over Louisiana

Well this was not supposed to be an ordinary early season tune-up.

Miami has very high hopes for this season, but Louisiana is an outstanding team in their own right.

It was apparent at the onset the Ragin' Cajuns could ball.

However, the home team from Coral Gables might just be one of the best in the nation when all is said and done.

The Hurricanes were very impressive, largely with out C Tonye Jekiri who struggled all night with foul trouble, in a 93-77 victory over Louisiana College from the Bank United Center.

UM is now 2-0 on the season.

Star G  Sheldon McClellan scored their first 5 points and 8 of their first 10, and Angel Rodriguez played some scintillating back court defense to help the Hurricanes gain an early edge.

But the preseason favorite for Sun Belt Player of the Year, LC's Shawn Long, was a beast down low to keep things tight for a while.

Ja'Quan Newton came off the bench and  responded though, getting a few buckets to extend to a 21-15 advantage 10 minutes in,

A big run ensued.

The lead was extended when Rodriguez pulled down a rebound in traffic, dribbled behind the back past 3 Ragin' Cajun players, and set up a wide open three for Davon Reed in the corner.

The Hurricanes' crisp passing was the biggest difference in the first half.

Freshman Anthony Lawrence twice found himself wide open under the hoop for easy baskets, aided by great passes from Davon Reed and Jekiri.

McClellan later swelled the lead to 17 with a steal and coast to coast lay in with 4 minutes to go.

UM's leading scorer had 12 in the first stanza.

At the half Miami led 43-27 largely sparked by Lawrence, who was all over the court making plays on both ends.

In the final 20 minutes, both teams started out hot.

Louisiana got a much needed 3 ball from Brice Washington to cut into the lead.

But Rodriguez got to the hoop for a lay up and Reed hit back to back corner triples to keep the momentum with the Hurricanes.

The junior from Ewing N.J.  nearly finished a spectacular baseline dunk attempt  moments later that prompted both laughter and disbelief from suspended F Kamari Murphy on the bench.

All kidding aside, UM had all the answers.

Reed would later explode to hoop for a dunk off the opposite baseline and no one was giggling as this time he finished.

A times in the second half, UM was getting crushed on the offensive glass by Long and Devonta Walker of the Cajuns.

But it simply didn't matter.

When they looked to be reeling with just under 10 minutes to go, Reed and Ivan Cuz Uceda hit back to back three pointers to keep LC at bay.

The rest was academic.

Overall Coach L probably would like to see the 'Canes clean up the glass and defend a little better.  But as far as early season tests go, they passed with flying colors.

Reed led UM with 19, Rodriguez poured in 18, and McClellan 16 for Miami.

The Hurricanes were a red hot 12-23 from distance on the game,

Long led the Cajuns with 21,

Next Up: The 'Canes take on Mississippi State in the First Round of the Puerto Rico Tip Off on Thursday.

And the highlights: