Hurricanes Host Clemson in Sunday Rematch

Feb. 19, 2011

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CORAL GABLES, FLA… The University of Miami men’s basketball team is back in the BankUnited Center to play host to Clemson in an ACC rematch on Sun., Feb. 20, at 3:30 p.m. ESPNU will broadcast the game nationally.

Game 27: Miami (16-10, 4-7) vs. Clemson (17-9, 6-6)Date: Sun., Feb. 20, 2011 | Time: 3:30 p.m. | Site: BankUnited CenterTV: ESPNU | Radio: 560 WQAM (WQAM.com), 90.5 FM (WVUM.org)Web Video: NoneWebsites: Miami (www.HurricaneSports.com) | Clemson (www.ClemsonTigers.com)

Projected Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 200, So.) 13.5 4.5 3.303 Malcolm Grant (G, 6-1, 180, Jr.) 15.3 1.7 3.325 Garrius Adams (G, 6-6, 196, So.) 7.8 3.5 1.631 DeQuan Jones (G/F, 6-7, 219, Jr.) 5.0 2.6 0.4^42 Reggie Johnson (C, 6-10, 303, So.) 12.2 9.5 1.3^

Projected Clemson StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast02 Demontez Stitt (G, 6-2, 180, Sr.) 14.0 4.3 3.345 Jerai Grant (F/C, 6-8, 230, Sr.) 12.3 6.7 2.4^11 Andre Young (G, 5-9, 175, Jr.) 10.8 2.7 3.005 Tanner Smith (G, 6-5, 210, Jr.) 8.0 3.6 2.531 Devin Booker (F/C, 6-8, 245, So.) 7.7 5.3 0.7*

^ blocks per game | * steals per game

Winners of four of their last five games, the Hurricanes look to avenge a 79-72 loss at Clemson on Jan. 9 in the second ACC game for both squads. In that contest, Jerai Grant had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Demontez Stitt added 17 for the Tigers. Stitt had 11 of his points in the second half, including five in a 12-0 run to start the half for the Tigers. Miami got within 74-71 on Durand Scott’s banker with 1:16 left, but Andre Young followed with a high, floating basket as the shot clock ran out to extend the Tigers’ lead. Scott finished with a game-high 24 points for UM.

Miami has three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by the backcourt of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. Scoring in double figures in 20 of his last 22 games, Grant is contributing a team-high 15.3 points and 3.3 assists per game, while converting 87.4 percent from the line (2nd in the ACC), 42.3 percent from the field and an ACC-best 43.9 percent from long range, with league-high 2.7 three-pointers per game. Scott adds 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from downtown and 85.6 percent from the line (4th in the ACC). Big man Reggie Johnson — who knocked down a career-high 25 points in his homecoming at Wake Forest on Feb. 9 — has notched 10 double-doubles this season, and is averaging 12.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

Clemson also bring three double-figure scorers into Sunday’s game, with two hot-shooting guards in Demontez Stitt and Andre Young and a talented big man in Jerai Grant, who gave Miami fits in the first meeting between the programs this season. Stitt averages a team-high 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists an outing, while Grant adds 12.3 points, a team-high 6.7 boards and 2.4 blocks per game. Young contributes 10.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 39.1 percent from long range with 2.3 treys per contest. THE SERIES Since joining the ACC in 2004-05, the Miami-Clemson series is knotted at 5-all. However, the Tigers lead the all-time series 10-6 over the Hurricanes and have won four straight — including three at Littlejohn Coliseum.

DOUBLE DOWN

While big man Reggie Johnson leads the Hurricanes with 10 double-doubles this season — third-best in the ACC and 30th in the nation, two other `Canes have also registered their first double-doubles this season. In Tuesday’s non-conference win at UNC Greensboro, guard Durand Scott finished with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while Adrian Thomas notched his first double-double in the overtime win over Virignia on Feb. 5, with career highs of 20 points — including six three-pointers — and 10 rebounds.

I AM NO. 1

In just his second season as a Hurricane, junior Malcolm Grant leads the ACC in both three-point field goal percentage (.439) and three-pointers per game (2.7) and needs just six threes to climb into UM’s top 10 in career treys. Entering Sunday’s game versus Clemson, the Brooklyn native has drained 130 threes in 59 career games for an ACC-best (among active players) 2.2 three-pointers per game over his career. With six threes, he will move into a tie for 10th place with assistant coach Jake Morton.

The Hurricanes have led the ACC in three-point field goal percentage in three of the last four seasons — Adrian Thomas in 2010 (.421) and Jack McClinton in 2009 (.453, with an ACC-high 3.2 threes per game) and 2007 (.440, with an ACC-high 2.9 threes per game). In 2008, McClinton averaged an ACC-high 2.9 threes per game at a .427 clip from long range — second best in the league.

1, 2, 3

Miami has the ACC’s top-two most prolific three-point shooters in Malcolm Grant (2.7 pg, 1st) and Adrian Thomas (2.5 pg, 2nd). Grant has hit a trey in 13-straight games for the second-longest active streak in the ACC, while Thomas has nailed a triple in 11 consecutive to tie for the third-longest active streak in the league. The duo combined for 10 three-pointers in Tuesday’s win at UNC Greensboro, shooting a collective 55.6 percent from downtown (10-18).

HOME SWEET HOME

The Hurricanes are 10-3 at the BankUnited Center this season. Over the last four seasons, UM has compiled a 48-13 (.787) record at home, and is 78-30 (.722) at home overall under head coach Frank Haith — including nine wins over ranked opponents. The Hurricanes have now notched double-digit home wins at the BankUnited in four-straight seasons and seven times in eight full seasons calling the arena home. UM has won 20 consecutive non-conference regular season games at home. DOUBLE TROUBLE

Currently averaging 12.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, Reggie Johnson could become the first Hurricane to average a double-double since Joe Wylie posted 18.4 points and 10.0 rebounds over 28 games in 1990-91. Wylie is the lone `Cane to accomplish the feat since the return of the program in 1985-86. According to available statistics, just nine players in program history have averaged a double-double for a season 17 times — including the great Rick Barry doing it three times, including 37.4 points and 18.3 boards per game in 1964-65.

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 NOW

Individual game tickets for Miami’s ACC games are now on sale to the general public. Prices for most ACC games begin as low as $15. For additional information, please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office online at www.hurricanesports.com or by phone at 1-800-GO-CANES.

Men’s Basketball: UM vs. Clemson