The University of Miami men’s basketball team faced its first setback of the season Thursday afternoon, falling to the Drake Bulldogs (4-0), 80-69, at TD Arena in the first round of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.
Graduate student Nijel Pack led the Hurricanes (3-1) in scoring with 17 points, while senior Brandon Johnson paced Miami on the boards, hauling in seven rebounds.
Drake got off to a hot start, taking an early 17-8 lead thanks in part to a 10-point first half from guard Bennett Stirtz.
The Hurricanes strung together a 10-2 run late in the frame to cut the deficit to five points with three minutes to play in the half, but Drake recorded back-to-back layups in the final minute of the first half to take a 36-27 lead into halftime.
Johnson went to work for the Hurricanes in the second half, scoring all seven of his points in the final 20 minutes. An old-fashioned three-point play for the forward at the 12:52 mark pulled the Hurricanes to within four, 44-40, of the Bulldogs.
However, Miami faced foul trouble early in the second half, sending the Bulldogs to the line three times in a three-minute span, which allowed Drake to extend its lead back to double-figures, 53-42, with nine minutes to play.
The Hurricanes shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, but ultimately could not complete the comeback, falling 80-69 to Drake.
Miami will face the loser of the Oklahoma State/FAU game on Friday at 2 p.m. ET at TD Arena.
Oops for hoops!
Posted by: Herbieibis | November 21, 2024 at 08:18 PM
Tough to beat the other team in an alley brawl when the refs let them punch you constantly and then start whistling your team for not hitting them back even harder in the face like they just went after yours in what is supposed to be officiated as a non-contact sport. Terrible officiating crew, hope the Shriners get their money back from hiring them with how terrible the last game was officiated on the floor and UM doesn't draw any of them in any more games this year because all three of them were varying degrees of trash tier officiating I thought.
Don't particularly like the roster match ups against Okie State today either, they're tall, go nine to 10 deep on the bench, and unless Miami can figure out the correct roster rotation in 26 hours, are going to be tough for UM to beat much less cover a spread against. Leading rebound-er is a guard and UM has trouble locking down physical guards still in the heavy minutes players at the roster spots who are drawing this assignment. If they have to beat the other team and the refs again, probably won't be a good day at 2pm to kick off the weekend.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | November 22, 2024 at 08:00 AM
Our Canes lose again in Charleston 80-74 this time to Oklahoma State Cowboys SMH!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | November 22, 2024 at 04:14 PM
Womens sports at UM dominating the competition....
Men.......hmmmmmmmmm not so much...well we are 9-1 in football....we need a strong showing tomorrow!!!!!
Colder here today....freezing this am....glad to see it come!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | November 22, 2024 at 04:49 PM
NEW BLOG IS UP!
Posted by: 86Cane | November 22, 2024 at 07:29 PM