McClellan, Burnett Save the Season for Miami Basketball, UM beats BC 89-86 in double OT

The Miami Hurricanes entered today's re-scheduled contest desperately in need of a win to stay in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament berth.

They faced a team in BC that was as cold as the Northeast weather, having lost 5 in a row despite being relatively competitive.

The Eagles were no pushovers today, and the 'Canes needed a big game from Sheldon McClellan and a huge late contribution from Deandre Burnett to survive Boston College 89-86 in double OT.

UM got a few point blank looks early on, but Tonye Jekiri missed a dunk and Angel Rodriguez turned the ball over from in close, and the "Canes did not look sharp with the ball.

But they were picked up by McClellan, who was hot early and scored the 'Canes first 7 points, in route to an early advantage.

Will Magarity, who averages just under 4 a game was aggressive off he bench for the Eagles though, and his 7 quick points kept it close.

When Miami went cold about 10 minutes in, and BC got hot from deep nailing 4 of their first 8 to take the lead,  it sparked a 10-0 Eagles run.

Suddenly this game was resembling the Hurricanes frustrating loss to Wake last week.

In fact, Olivier Hanlan and Magarity would hit back to back triples to make it 24-18 BC.

The 'Canes appeared to be getting outplayed on both ends, yet somehow still went to the half down just 30-28.

McClellan led the way with 11.   Magarity paced the Eagles with 10.

For Miami, they had to be happy to be down just 2 after 20 sluggish minutes.

The Hurricanes seem to have been given a second life.  Little did they know they would have a 3rd, 4th, and 5th.

A Davon Reed trifecta put UM back in front in the opening moments of the second stanza, but Patrick Heckmann kept driving in the very sizable gaps in the Hurricane defense to even things up.

McClellan stayed hot though, and knocked in a pair of jumpers to put Miami back on top at the TV timeout.

When Reed and Hanlan traded bombs at the 11 minute mark and it was 45 all, in a nip and tuck second half.

But Miami went ice old again, and Hanlan didn't.    Before you could blink, UM was down 7 and in trouble.

With their season legitimately on the line, the 'Canes fought back.

Rodriguez and Reed got to the hoop and Burnett, making his first appearance in 4 games, hit a three to cut it to 55-54.

Moments later another triple by Burnett tied things up.

Dimitri Batten put the Eagles back in front, But Rodriguez went right to the rack to give Miami the lead with 3 to go.

It appeared as though UM was in for another classic finish.

Up 1 with under a minute to go, things got sticky for the 'Canes.

Rodriguez appeared to hit Batten with an elbow as he tried to create space for the dribble.  Initially it was just called a block on BC (that call would stick), but after review they also called a flagrant on Rodriguez fouling him out.

After the mess was sorted, Manu Lecomte would hit a pair of free throws, BC would hit a tech FT, and it was 66-64 Miami.

BC retained possession though and Aaron Brown got two more from the charity stripe to tie it up.

UM had the ball with 40 seconds to go but Burnett was called for a charge.

BC held for a last shot but Brown could not connect, sending the game to overtime.

In the OT Hanlan and Jekiri traded difficult hoops to start things.

A Hanlan break away put  Boston College ahead, but McClellan nailed a thee to put the 'Canes back in front.

After both teams missed great chances to score on alternating possessions, BC's leading scorer got wide open for another triple and his 28th point of the game to re-take the lead.

UM turned the ball over and an apparent over and back, not to mention an awful no call on an over the back, would lead to a Dennis Clifford dunk and Miami was down 4 with just 20 second left.

Miami was in HUGE trouble.

They did not quit.  And they went right back to Burnett.

The RS freshman got right to the bucket for an and one though to give the Hurricanes life.

Batten made just 1 of 2 FTs and Burnett went right back to the basket again, drawing a foul.  He nailed both from the line to tie it back up at 76.

Heckmann got a look from in close as time wound down, but inexplicably could not convert, and double OT ensued.

In the second extra session, the teams found little separation.

A medium range jumper by Lecomte gave Miami a lead, was answered by a weary Hanlan.

Jekiri would hit  a pair of big time free throws to take the lead, and added two more a minute later.

BC finally ran out of answers and UM was happy to run out of Chestnut Hill with the win.

And with that they saved their season, and Burnett likely earned more minutes coming down the stretch.

UM needed all 13 points he gave them, not to mention the 24 McClellan would net.   Hanlan finished with 32 for the Eagles.

UM faces a quick turnaround, and will face Virginia tech at home on Wednesday at 7 PM.  It will be a true test of grit after so much travel and such a quick turnaround.  Not to mention all the extra minutes and emotion expended today.