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Give the Buffalo Bulls credit
They really came to play.
Nick Perkins was red hot from distance early as the Bulls built an early lead.
But Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan made the difference in the second half as UM held on for a 79-72 win over plucky Buffalo.
The two senior guards each went for 20 plus, and every point was needed.
Miami built a second half lead that swelled to as much as 12.
But the never say die Bulls cut the lead to 4 with under 5 to go.
However, the 'Canes were the better team, and they controlled the glass to the tune of a 33-23 advantage.
Down the stretch their superior size and athleticism overwhelmed Buffalo.
Against Wichita State (who blew out Arizona impressively), Miami will need to be better.
For now though, we can all enjoy a win that was perhaps a little more closer than expected.
Full Story (Courtesy UM):
PROVIDENCE (AP) — Angel Rodriguez had 24 points and seven rebounds as third-seeded Miami held on to defeat No. 14 seed Buffalo 79-72 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
Sheldon McClellan added 20 points and five rebounds. It is Miami's first tournament win since it went to the Sweet 16 in 2013. The Hurricanes advance to play the winner of Arizona and Wichita State in the second round of the South Region on Saturday.
Miami (26-7) kept the Bulls at bay for most of the second half, leading by as many as 12.
The Bulls (20-15) finally got some traction, closing within 72-68 on a jumper by Lamonte Bearden with less than two minutes to play. But Miami hit enough free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
Nick Perkins had 20 points and six rebounds to lead Buffalo. Bearden added 19 points.
Miami trailed by 9 points about midway through the first half, before surging to take a 2-point halftime lead.
Buffalo tried to sag in on Miami's big men in the second half, but were bitten several times when the Hurricanes were able to get the ball out to the perimeter for open 3s.
Buffalo coach Nate Oats promised his team would come out attacking, and it did, connecting on four of their first five from beyond the arc to take an early 12-6 lead.
But Miami pecked away the rest of the have and took a 35-33 lead into the locker room after Bearden's layup at the buzzer was waved off.
TIP-INS
Miami: Hit 5 of its final 7 field goals. ..Outscored Buffalo 36-24 in the paint. ...Went 26 of 34 from the free throw line. ... Improves to 3-1 against Buffalo. ...Improves to 7-7 all-time in NCAA Tournament.
Buffalo
| starters | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W. ConnerF | 32 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| I. SmartF | 6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| L. BeardenG | 36 | 7-16 | 1-4 | 4-6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 19 |
| J. SkeeteG | 21 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| B. HamiltonG | 31 | 4-11 | 3-7 | 1-3 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| bench | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| D. KadiriF | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| N. PerkinsF | 23 | 6-12 | 4-6 | 4-6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20 |
| N. RakicevicG | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. WiggintonG | 11 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| C. MassinburgG | 29 | 3-7 | 0-3 | 5-5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| R. JohnsonF | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| Z. DiSalvoG | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| T. MoffeG | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| S. DuricG | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| C. PinoG | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| TEAM | 23-59 | 10-26 | 16-22 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 26 | 72 | |
| 39.0% | 38.5% | 72.7% | |||||||||||
| starters | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. MurphyF | 33 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 3-5 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
| T. JekiriC | 16 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| D. ReedG | 39 | 4-10 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| A. RodriguezG | 35 | 6-15 | 3-7 | 9-11 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 24 |
| S. McClellanG | 38 | 5-10 | 0-2 | 10-13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| bench | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| I. Cruz UcedaF | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Lawrence Jr.F | 9 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| J. NewtonG | 26 | 3-8 | 0-1 | 4-5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| J. PalmerG | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. StowellF | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| E. IzunduC | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| R. MuhammadG | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| M. RobinsonG | Did not play | ||||||||||||
| TEAM | 24-54 | 5-15 | 26-34 | 11 | 33 | 44 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 79 | |
| 44.4% | 33.3% | 76.5% | |||||||||||