The University of Miami men’s basketball team edged Pittsburgh, 79-73, Tuesday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum to begin ACC Tournament action.
The No. 13-seeded Hurricanes, despite playing with only six available scholarship student-athletes, used a balanced scoring attack to defeat the No. 12-seeded Panthers. All five starters scored 12-plus points, led by 20 from sophomore guard Isaiah Wong.
“I’m just really proud of our guys for the energy and effort they brought to the game,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “They played with a great deal of confidence. They executed the game plan extremely well. Probably the most impressive thing is they shared the ball so well; we scored 79 points and had 17 assists, which really hasn’t been there all year.”

The Hurricanes used a 19-7 run during which they made 7-of-10 field goals to take a seven-point lead, 31-24, with 4:04 remaining in the first half. Pittsburgh (10-12, 6-10 ACC) pulled back within two, but a jump-shot by Wong in the closing seconds gave Miami (9-16, 4-15 ACC) a 40-36 edge at the break.
Both sides shot well from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes, with the Panthers posting a 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) mark, including a 3-of-4 clip from senior guard Nike Sibande, and the Hurricanes notching 5-of-13 (38.5 percent).
Early in the second half, Pittsburgh went on a 16-8 run during which it made three 3-pointers in under three minutes, to take the lead, 55-52 with 11:42 to play. Miami answered right back with a 10-3 burst to go in front, 62-58, with 5:33 remaining, but the Panthers surged back 66-64, with 3:36 on the clock.

Once again, though, the Hurricanes countered. Miami scored nine straight points—three each from Wong, redshirt senior center Nysier Brooks and redshirt senior guard Kameron McGusty—and took a game-high seven-point advantage, 73-66, with just 55 seconds to play.
The Panthers did not get any closer than four down the stretch, as Miami held on for the victory. The Hurricanes made five of their seven field-goal attempts and Wong connected on four straight free throws in the last 30 seconds.
Wong, who now co-leads the ACC with 10 20-point games, shot 9-of-10 from the stripe setting a new season high and finishing one shy of his top mark in attempts. Sophomore forward Anthony Walker posted 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds in a career-best 39 minutes, while McGusty also notched 14 points. All of them dished out four assists, tying a career high for Walker.
Senior guard Elijah Olaniyi also recorded 14 points, adding six rebounds and a season-high-tying three assists, while Brooks finished with 12 points and a career-high-tying three steals.
“All five starters really executed their role extremely well,” Larrañaga said. “We got some good interior baskets from Nysier Brooks and Anthony Walker. We had some nice threes from Kam, Isaiah and Elijah.”

Freshman guard Femi Odukale paced the Panthers with a career-high 28 points. He shot 11-of-16 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from deep. Sibande finished with a season-best 24 points, logging a 9-of-15 clip from the field and a 5-of-8 mark beyond the arc. Redshirt sophomore guard Ithiel Horton added 10 points.
Sophomore forward Justin Champagnie, a First Team All-ACC performer who is second in the ACC in scoring and first in rebounding, totaled 10 points and 11 rebounds. However, Miami held him to just 5-of-20 shooting, including 1-of-8 on 3-pointers. He made just three of his first 17 attempts through 37 minutes.
“You’ve got to give Anthony Walker a lot of credit because he was really the only one that guarded him,” Larrañaga said. “Justin Chanmpagnie is a dynamic player offensively. He can do a lot of different things. He’s a terrific offensive rebounder, but today was not his today. Today was our day.”
Free-throw shooting proved to be the difference in the game, as Miami finished 22-of-28 (78.6 percent) to tie a season best in makes. The Hurricanes made 11 of their first 12 attempts from the line. Meanwhile, the Panthers registered a 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) mark at the stripe after opening just 1-of-6.
In addition, Miami had 17 assists, its second-most ever in an ACC Tournament outing, and just six turnovers, while Pittsburgh notched nine assists and 14 turnovers. The Hurricanes logged a 22-6 edge in points off giveaways, as well as 19-4 cushion in fast-break points.
Miami now takes on fifth-seeded Clemson Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., live on ACC Network from the Greensboro Coliseum, in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Sometimes even the strongest amongst us needs some shelter from life's storms. Today, our good friend VA Cane needs that and more. Now here he is, coming to you, in his own words, in his time of need...
Since you all are family, I mean that, let me share a little about my family. February has become a tough month for me over time. Good things, and challenging things.
My Dad's Birthday was Valentines Day. He was my hero, so Sunday thinking of him being gone was tough. The 15th, my son turned 26. He's the apple of my eye, my son I pass the torch to and a great kid!
The 18th my Mom will have been gone 2 years. She was the smartest person I have ever known. You could never fool that woman and she was very special to me. So, that's a start I prepared for this February.
But it gets tougher, much tougher. Friday night. my niece Tabatha Ann was murdered in her home by her live in of 10 years in front of a 5 and 7 year old. Never had something that tragic that close...man would never fight another man, then beats her to death in front of their children. I have to write the articles, preach the funeral.
My 3 week old granddaughter, 3rd one behind Kensley and Lillian, her name is Elizabeth Ray, we call her Lizzy Ray, was ill during east coast ice storm. Went to the doctor yesterday, breathing problems, mucous, showing signs of cystic fibrosis. So folks, the VAC has a very full agenda, and as always everybody looks to me for answers, faith, leadership, poise. Not always easy with the regular stuff of the job, February thoughts, and murder and serious illness on top of it.
And we lost my mother in law in July to Alzhimers, so if I seem a little edgy, I dont feel bad, and was not trying to be a negative nancy, but you have some insight as to why!
You know old VAC, at one time. Long ago, the smallest starting corner in the nation in the 70s. Now the patriarch of a family,and while challenged with issues way more pressing than the field, will always be there for all. In the mix for the championships of the game calle Life!!!
I always advise people a simple saying: Let Go Let God. It works folks, cause Faith is what you have when there is nothing left to hang onto! Thanks for the time and will keep you all advised.
Please pray for my niece and granddaughter. I know you all will!
God bless all of you!
https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/henrico-murder-suspect-faced-more-than-a-dozen-domestic-violence-charges-over-the-last-year