Hurricanes to Welcome Mississippi State Monday Evening

Dec. 10, 2006

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY (5-2) vs. UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (6-3)
When: December 11, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: BankUnited Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: FSN Florida
Radio: WQAM (560 AM); WVUM (90.5 FM)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); MSU (www.lehighsports.com)
Tickets: $15, $20, $25 – For tickets call (305) 284-CANE
Up Next: vs. Stetson, Dec. 16 at 4:00 p.m. at BankUnited Center

THE MATCHUP:
The University of Miami (6-3) takes on Mississippi State University (5-2) in the first meeting between the two schools since 1990. The game marks the second in the last three days for both teams. Miami defeated Lehigh, 79-58, on Saturday while Mississippi State knocked off South Alabama, 84-46. Mississippi State has won its last three games following a 69-66 loss at Clemson on November 21. The Bulldogs have been led this season by sophomore forward Jamont Gordon who leads the team in scoring (16.3 ppg), rebounding (9.0 rpg) and assists (4.7 apg). Mississippi State boasts four players averaging in double-figures including junior forward center Charles Rhodes (12.7 ppg), freshman guard Barry Stewart (11.1 ppg) and freshman guard Ben Hansbrough (10.7 ppg). Miami enters the game having won three of its last four games and is a perfect 5-0 at home this season. Miami has been led by sophomore guard Jack McClinton who has scored 20-or-more points in six straight games and leads the ACC in scoring (21.0 ppg), three-point field goal percentage (.561) and three-point field goals per game (3.56). Also playing well for the Hurricanes is sophomore Brian Asbury. Asbury ranks second on the team in both scoring (12.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.9 rpg), and is tied for the team lead in steals (1.33 spg). Miami will once again be without senior center Anthony King due to a wrist injury suffered against Georgia Tech on Dec. 3. He is expected to be out until January. Junior forward Raymond Hicks stepped into the starting line-up against Lehigh and recorded a career-high 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor. Over the last two games Hicks is averaging 12.0 points per game and is shooting 78.6 percent (11-14) from the field.

A WIN OVER MISSISSIPPI STATE WOULD:

Improve Miami’s record to 7-3 this season.Improve Miami’s home record to 6-0 this season.Improve Miami’s record to 29-3 (.906) against non-conference opponents at the BankUnited Center.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Anthony Harris needs one assist to move into sole possession of eighth on UM’s career assist list. Harris is currently tied with Michael Simmons (1998-03) in eighth with 263.With 20 points Jack McClinton would become the first Hurricane since Eric Brown in 1988-89 to record seven straight 20-point games.

THE SERIES:
Miami and Mississippi State meet for the third time with the series tied a 1-1. Both games were played on neutral sites.

SERIES RESULTS:
See pdf

TV/RADIO:
The Miami-Mississippi State game will be televised live on FSN Florida. Frank Forte will handle the play-by-play with Bob Wenzel adding analysis. The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network, WQAM (560 AM). Joe Zagacki “The Voice of the Hurricanes” will call all the action with Josh Darrow adding analysis. Brian London will serve as studio host. The game can also be heard on the University of Miami Student Radio Network, WVUM (90.5 FM).

ON THE COACHES:
Miami head coach Frank Haith is in his third season with the Hurricanes. His record career record is 40-32 (.556) including a 6-3 mark this season. Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury is in his ninth season as a collegiate head coach, all with the Bulldogs. His record at MSU is 169-92 (.648).

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled an 115-55 (.676) record against non-conference opponents, including a 82-17 (.828) mark at home. The Hurricanes are 28-3 (.903) against non-conference opponents at the BankUnited Center.

EARLY SUCCESS:
The Hurricane’s win against Lehigh marked head coach Frank Haith’s 40th win at Miami. Just nine games into his third season, Haith is already tied for third for the most wins by a UM coach in his first three seasons.

Miami Coaches in there first three seasons:
See pdf

HOME SWEET HOME:
Miami is 5-0 at the BankUnited Center and when you look at the team’s offensive numbers at home that comes as no surprise. Miami is averaging 87.2 points per game and is shooting 52.1 percent from the field including 40.2 percent from three-point range at home this season. Miami’s point production is 20 points higher then road games. See pdf for chart.

HOT START:
Jack McClinton is off to the best offensive start by a Hurricane in 15 years. The sophomore has scored 189 points in the first nine games of the season marking the fifth highest total since UM reinstated its basketball program in 1985. See pdf for chart of top scoring outputs to start a season.