Miami basketball collapses late losing at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh went on an 11-0 run over the final 2:25 seconds to defeat the Miami basketball team 71-68 Saturday in the Steel City. Miami had three turnovers in the final minute of the game. The Hurricanes were in control throughout the second half. Pittsburgh did not take its first lead of the second half until 33 seconds left.
Miami failed to close out late on the road for the fourth time in the last five games. The only Miami win on the road in those five games was 86-63 on Tuesday at Florida State. Miami’s four ACC losses are by a total of 12 points. Miami drops to 16-5 overall with the loss and 7-4 in the ACC, falling into a fifth-place tie with North Carolina St.
Jordan Miller led Miami with 18 points. Miller paced the Miami basketball team with 14 in the first half. Miami led 33-28 at halftime. Isaiah Wong finished with 14 scoring nine in the second half. Miami led 31-20 late in the first half before Pittsburgh closed strong with an 8-2 run. The Hurricanes stymied the Panthers in the first half.
Pittsburgh shot 31.3 percent from the floor and made just two of its eight three-point attempts in the first half. Miami shot 48.3 percent in the first half and was 3-8 on threes. Miami came out strong early in the second half and matched its largest first-half lead at 11 twice in the first eight minutes.
Pittsburgh kept chipping away before the game closing 11-0 run. Miami could not close on the Pittsburgh shooters in the second half. Pittsburgh shot 48.5 percent from form the floor and made seven of its 14 three-point attempts. Miami shot 50 percent in the second half and was 5-9 on threes.
A big difference in the second half is that Pittsburgh had nine more shot attempts than Miami and outrebounded the Hurricanes 19-11. Pittsburgh finished with a 39-30 edge on the boards. Pittsburgh guards Janarius Burton, Greg Elliot and Blake Hinson combined for 51 points. Hinson had 21, Burton 19 and Elliott 11.
Burton also had 10 rebounds and seven assists. Pittsburgh finished with a 17-2 edge in second-chance points. Norchad Omier was the only other Miami basketball player in double figures with 11 points and nine rebounds. Nijel Pack had an off game scoring only six points on 2-6 from the floor.
Next. Miami falls in both national polls. dark
The game at Pittsburgh was the third straight for Miami on the road. Miami is at home on Tuesday night versus Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes finish the season with six of its last nine games at home. A strong finish will be critical for the Hurricanes to improve its NCAA Tournament resume and earn a double bye in the ACC Tournament.