Miami Takes on Georgia Tech Thursday
Feb. 2, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CORAL GABLES, FLA… The University of Miami men’s basketball team will host back-to-back ACC games this week, beginning with a Thursday tilt versus Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Game 22: Miami (12-9, 1-6) vs. Georgia Tech (10-10, 3-4)Date: Thurs., Feb. 3, 2011 | Time: 7 p.m. | Site: BankUnited CenterTV: ESPN2 | Radio: 560 WQAM (WQAM.com) | Web Video: NoneWebsites: Miami (www.HurricaneSports.com) |Georgia Tech (www.ramblinwreck.com)
Projected Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 200, So.) 14.2 4.2 3.203 Malcolm Grant (G, 6-1, 180, Jr.) 15.7 1.8 3.825 Garrius Adams (G, 6-6, 196, So.) 7.1 3.1 1.845 Julian Gamble (F/C, 6-9, 258, Jr.) 3.3 3.1 0.8^42 Reggie Johnson (C, 6-10, 303, So.) 11.9 10.0 1.4^
Projected Georgia Tech StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast01 Iman Shumpert (G, 6-5, 212, Jr.) 16.6 5.9 3.841 Glen Rice, Jr. (G, 6-5, 206, So.) 12.6 5.6 2.803 Maurice Miller (G, 6-2, 188,Sr.) 5.6 2.4 2.505 Daniel Miller (C, 6-11, 258, Fr.) 4.8 5.2 2.1^24 Kammeon Holsey (F, 6-8, 226, Fr.) 4.2 2.9 0.7*
^ blocks per game | * steals per game
The Hurricanes lead the all-time series, 6-5, over the Yellow Jackets, and have won five of the last six meetings between the programs — including the 64-62 win over then- 20 Georgia Tech in the last contest between the programs on Feb. 10, 2010, in the BankUnited Center. James Dews hit a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer for the win after missing the front end of a one-and-one with 19 seconds to go. Dwayne Collins posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds for Miami, while Malcolm Grant had 11 first-half points and Reggie Johnson added 10 points and seven rebounds in just 16 minutes. Adrian Thomas added four three-pointers en route to 12 points. Brian Oliver led all scorers with 19 points off the bench for Georgia Tech, while Gani Lawal contributed 17 points and a game-high 18 boards. Miami led 62-58 until Iman Shumpert sank a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining and then hit a layup to tie at 62-all with 10 seconds to go.
Miami has three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by the backcourt of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. Scoring in double figures in 13 of his last 14 games, Grant is contributing a team-high 15.7 points, 3.8 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game, while converting 89.7 percent from the line (2nd in the ACC, 16th in the nation), 42.0 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from long range (top in the ACC along with his 2.7 three-pointers per game). After a 21-point outburst at Virginia Tech, Scott adds 14.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from three and 86.7 percent from the line (3rd in the ACC). Big man Reggie Johnson has notched double-doubles in two of his last three games and adds 11.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game for UM. He and Maryland’s Jordan Williams are the only ACC players averaging a double-double.
Georgia Tech also has three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by reigning ACC Player of the Week Iman Shumpert with 16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.8 steals an outing. The 6-5 junior guard registered a triple-double in the Yellow Jackets’ win over Virginia Tech last week, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and seven steals. Glen Rice averages 12.6 points and 5.6 boards per game, while Brian Oliver adds 11.5 points (1.9 three-pointers) and 4.4 rebounds an outing. Georgia Tech — who has lost three straight at the BankUnited Center — has dropped two of its last three games and is 0-6 on the road this season, while the hard luck’ Canes ride a four-game skid — by a total of 11 points. Both teams return to the hardwood in ACC play on Saturday.
Miami freshman Rion Brown’s dad — Tico Brown — played collegiate basketball for Georgia Tech from 1977-79, averaging 16.1 points (.478 FG%, .777 FT%) and 4.8 rebounds per game. The 6-5 guard out of Kokomo, Indiana, earned First Team All-Metro honors in 1977, second team honors in 1978 and was a second-round draft pick by the Utah Jazz in 1979. He went on to play in the CBA for 10 years, playing on two championship teams and being selected to the All-Time CBA Team. He had games of 60 points, 53 points, 52 points and 51 points and went on to retire in 1988 as the league’s all-time leading scorer with 8,538 points.
RECCURING NIGHTMAREThe Hurricanes dropped their fourth-straight close game, falling by a combined 11 points over that span. Garrius Adams hit back-to-back three-pointers at Virginia Tech to bring Miami within one point, trailing 62-61 with 2:56 to go, and hit a third trey within a three-minute window to keep the ‘Canes within a basket, down 70-68 with 1:29 remaining in the game. But Miami would not score again, following up a two-point loss to Florida State (1/19), a two-point loss at NC State (1/23) and a three-point loss to North Carolina (1/26) with a four-point decision at Virginia Tech (1/30). This is the first time in program history that the Hurricanes have dropped four-straight games by less than five points.
I AM NO. 1Junior Malcolm Grant is among just three ACC players to lead the league in two or more statistical categories, hitting an ACC-high 2.7 three-pointers per game at a league-best 44.1 percent. Maryland’s Jordan Williams leads the ACC in rebounding, field goal percentage and defensive rebounds and Duke’s Nolan Smith leads all conference players in scoring and assists.
The 6-1 Brooklyn native is also among just eight ACC players ranked among the league’s top five in at least three statistical categories — three-point field goals made (2.7, 1st), three-point field goal percentage (.441, 1st) and free throw percentage (.897, 2nd). In addition, he is among the ACC’s leaders in scoring (15.7, 7th), assists (3.8, 7th) and minutes played (32.6, 6th) and among the nation’s leaders in free throw percentage (16th) and three-point field goal percentage (18th). Grant leads all active ACC players in career 3-point field goals made per game (2.19).
IT’S ACADEMIC Redshirt juniors Malcolm Grant and Julian Gamble — who are both interning in Miami’s Sports Information Office this semester — are on track to graduate in May, while sixth-year Adrian “The Godfather” Thomas is on track to earn his master’s degree in May as well. Speaking of academics, true freshman Raphael Akpejiori is a mechanical engineering major.
CALLING ALL FORMER `CANES STUDENT-ATHLETES All former University of Miami student-athletes are invited to Saturday’s men’s basketball game versus Virginia. The Hurricane Club is offering two complementary tickets for the 2 p.m. game. In addition, there will be a special pre-game party in the Hurricane 100 Room at 1 p.m. with hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and soft drinks for just $15. Advanced reservations and payment for the party are required. Please contact Crystal Demps in the Hurricane Club (305-284-6699/cdemps@miami.edu) to make your reservation.
CHAT WITH FELLOW `CANES Log onto HurricaneSports.com during Miami athletic events to chat with Miami insiders and other fans about the game and your favorite student-athletes. To join the chat, click on the Cover It Live program found online with each game’s preview, beginning 30 minutes before tip-off.
SECURE YOUR SEATS NOWIndividual game tickets for Miami’s ACC games are now on sale to the general public. The Hurricanes will host a regular slate of eight ACC games, including 2010 national champion Duke on Sun., Feb. 13. Prices for most ACC games begin as low as $15. For additional information or to order season tickets, please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office online at www.hurricanesports.com or by phone at 1-800-GO-CANES.
