:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48483017/usa-today-8984632.0.jpg)
For the second consecutive game, Miami started out very, very slow offensively.
Yet for the second straight contest, they won by double digits anyway thanks to a lock down defensive effort and just enough clutch plays from their guards.
The Hurricanes defeated the Orange today, 64-51 from the BUC behind a strong second half and some big time shots by Ja'Quan Newton.
Both teams were very strong defensively at the onset.
Syracuse's long active zone was matched by UM's suffocating man to man D.
But a Malachi Richardson triple helped put the Cuse up early.
Sheldon McClellan responded with 5 quick points of his own to help tie things up.
A James Palmer transition bucket and a Michael Gbinije dunk kept things interesting temporarily.
Some absolutely ugly basketball ensued.
The two teams combined to go 6 for their first 22.
It was a combination of poor offense and great D by both squads that kept the points off the board.
Eventually, the Orange found some inside out success as the 'Canes continued to struggle from both the field and the line,as they fell behind 20-9.
Things got incredibly bad for the Hurricanes during an extended drought.
UM missed three one and one attempts from the line in that span.
They also turned the ball over repeatedly. And they missed jumper after jumper after jumper.
It was really remarkable how poor their offense was.
In fact, the 'Canes went over 10 minutes with out a FG made.
They were lucky to only be down 25-17 at the half as they 0-11 from threes, and committed 9 turnovers in the opening 20.
The final stanza would be much cleaner, as UM rallied with a stronger effort on both ends.
In the opening moments, Miami sliced into the lead behind McClellan. The senior guard got a quick 5, thanks to some FTs and a two-handed stuff off a nice pass from Kamari Murphy.
The Hurricanes would actually jump out in front at the 15 minute mark, thanks to a Murphy dunk on the break.
That in and of itself was incredible considering they continued to come up empty on triples.
Eventually they would make a few.
Ivan Cruz Uceda hit their first one at the 12 minute to keep UM out in front.
A thunderous dunk by Davon Reed and Newton's bucket off a steal would stretch the lead to 38-32 with just over half of the final 20 to go.
But Richardson's impressive crossover move to the basket and his 5th triple of the game slowed down the UM momentum.
The Syracuse freshman was terrific all day, leading his team with 20 points
The Orange eventually re-took the lead, but twice Newton would hit clutch triples to put Miami back in front.
The sophomore from Philly is not known for his outside shooting, but on a day when no one else on the usually hot shooting Hurricanes could make one, it was apropos that he was their best outside shooter.
As a result of Newton's shooting, some sticky D, and Angel Rodriguez first bucket of the game, UM was able to extend the lead to 52-44 with just three minutes to go.
The rest was academic, with a Newton to Murphy alley hoop providing the exclamation point at the two minute mark....
McClellan led the way with 22. Newton added 14, all in the second half.
The 'Canes will certainly have to find away to get past these sluggish starts.
Nonetheless it is encouraging that they have the mettle and the defensive prowess to overcome them when needed.
1-0 in the ACC is never a bad thing, no matter how ugly this game was at times.
| Syracuse Orange | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARTERS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| DaJuan Coleman, C | 2-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | ||
| Tyler Roberson, F | 2-9 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||
| Michael Gbinije, G | 3-14 | 0-7 | 4-9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 10 | ||
| Trevor Cooney, G | 2-7 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | ||
| Malachi Richardson, G | 7-15 | 5-6 | 1-2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20 | ||
| BENCH | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| Chinonso Obokoh, C | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Tyler Lydon, F | 2-4 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | ||
| Kaleb Joseph, G | 0-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 18-56 | 7-22 | 8-14 | 12 | 29 | 41 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 25 | 51 | |||
| 32.1% | 31.8% | 57.1% | ||||||||||||
| Miami (FL) Hurricanes | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| Tonye Jekiri, C | 2-5 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Kamari Murphy, F | 4-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Davon Reed, G | 1-7 | 0-4 | 2-3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Angel Rodriguez, G | 1-9 | 0-7 | 1-1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | ||
| Sheldon McClellan, G | 5-11 | 0-6 | 12-14 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 | ||
| BENCH | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| Ivan Cruz Uceda, F | 1-6 | 1-5 | 2-2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Anthony Lawrence Jr., F | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Ja'Quan Newton, G | 3-5 | 2-2 | 6-10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 14 | ||
| James Palmer, G | 1-3 | 0-1 | 1-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 18-52 | 3-25 | 25-34 | 12 | 29 | 41 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 64 | |||
| 34.6% | 12.0% | 73.5% | ||||||||||||
Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: None - TEAMS: None
Next Up: UM hosts rival FSU at the Bank United Center, next Saturday 1/9 at 4PM.