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Coming into tonight, there was some concern that Notre Dame and their offense which was second ranked nationally in efficiency before tonight's game, would give Miami some trouble.
However, UM built off a very strong defensive performance down the stretch Vs Louisville over the weekend, and handcuffed the Irish in an impressive 68-50 road win.
More importantly, they kept alive their hopes for an ACC regular season crown.
With a win on Saturday Vs Virginia Tech and a loss by UNC at Duke and the Hurricanes would win their second ever Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.
The 'Canes jumped all over ND from the onset, knocking down 10 of their first 17 shots to build a 25-10 lead halfway through the opening stanza.
During the stretch, Angel Rodriguez had a remarkable crossover and finish to spark the surge.
Sheldon McCellan was also sharp and led the way with 8 early points, but UM was also very balanced overall and moved the ball well.
The Irish managed to chip away and cut the lead to 35-22 at the half behind 10 big points from big man Zach Auguste.
The second half was much more nip and tuck as both teams turned up the defensive pressure.
But Rodriguez was able to put enough points on the board to keep UM out in front.
Eventually Miami ran way and hid, as their senior back court combined for 36 big points in the 18 point win.
Tonye Jekiri also had a nice game with 14 points and 9 rebounds, and Davon Reed chipped in 10.
It was another impressive victory for a team that is peaking at the right time.
Will they end up regular season champs in the toughest conference in College Hoops?
We will find out soon enough.
Clearly though, they have earned their way to the opportunity.
Much more coverage on this performance and UM's run toward the top of ACC coming.
Miami
| starters | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. MurphyF | -- | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| T. JekiriC | -- | 7-14 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| D. ReedG | -- | 4-9 | 0-3 | 2-2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| A. RodriguezG | -- | 7-13 | 3-5 | 2-2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 19 |
| S. McClellanG | -- | 5-11 | 2-5 | 5-5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| bench | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| I. Cruz UcedaF | -- | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| C. StowellF | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| A. Lawrence Jr.F | -- | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| E. IzunduC | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| R. MuhammadG | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| J. NewtonG | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| J. PalmerG | -- | 1-4 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| M. RobinsonG | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| TEAM | 26-58 | 7-20 | 9-9 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 68 | |
| 44.8% | 35.0% | 100.0% |
| starters | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z. AugusteF | -- | 6-9 | 0-0 | 6-8 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 18 |
| A. BurgettF | -- | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| V.J. BeachemF | -- | 2-7 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| S. VasturiaG | -- | 0-9 | 0-4 | 4-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| D. JacksonG | -- | 3-13 | 1-6 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| bench | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| M. GebenF | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| B. ColsonF | -- | 4-6 | 0-0 | 3-3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| M. GregoryF | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| A. TorresF | -- | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| M. RyanF | -- | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| E. BurnsF | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| C. HoltzF | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| M. FarrellG | -- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| R. PfluegerG | -- | 1-3 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| TEAM | 17-50 | 3-16 | 13-16 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 50 | |
| 34.0% | 18.8% | 81.3% |