Kadji's Double-double Lifts Canes Past UNCG, 99-89

Box Score | Season Stats

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) ––  Kenny Kadji scored 30 points to lead Miami past North Carolina-Greensboro 99-89 Monday night.

The Hurricanes (9-4) withstood an upset bid by the Spartans, who have lost 10 straight and are 0-5 under interim coach Wes Miller.

UNC Greensboro (2-13) cut a 93-80 deficit with seven unanswered points late in the second half. David Williams’ layup with 1:36 remaining got the Spartans to within 93-87.

Durand Scott secured the Miami win with four free throws, finishing with 17 points.

“This was one of those games that it was more of a shootout,” Miami coach Jim Larranaga said. “We certainly want to play a lot better defense than we played this evening.”

Shane Larkin scored 12 consecutive points during a 1:27 span that helped the Hurricanes rally from a seven-point deficit early in the second half. Larkin hit three 3-pointers and converted three free throws after being fouled on an attempted 3-pointer with 13:54 remaining. Larkin’s free throws put Miami ahead for good at 68-67.

“My teammates did a great job of finding me open and I just hit my shots,” said Larkin, who finished 18 points, 14 in the second half. “I’ve always had the confidence in my game. I just have to be more aggressive for a full game.”

Trevis Simpson scored 36 points to lead UNC Greensboro. Simpson shot 12 of 20 from the field and made 7 of 11 3-pointers.

“I’m really proud that our guys came into their gym and competed,” Miller said. “I think for us moving forward is getting better on the defensive end of the floor.”

Rion Brown’s 3-pointer with 10:38 remaining increased Miami’s lead to 79-72. Trey McKinney Jones’ two free throws with 6:30 left gave the Hurricanes an 86-76 lead for their first double-digit advantage since midway through the first half.

The Spartans started the second half on a 7-0 run. Simpson’s 3-pointer 1:43 into the second half capped the run and gave UNC Greensboro a 56-49 lead.

Simpson scored 24 points in the first half and converted 5 of 7 shots from behind the arc. Simpson’s final 3-pointer of the half turned into a four-point play. McKinney Jones fouled him on the shot and Simpson converted the free throw to give the Spartans a 46-41 lead with 2:51 remaining.

Kadji scored Miami’s final 10 points of the half and his short jumper tied it at 49 with 26 seconds left.

“We just wanted to stay in the game and stay focused,” said Kadji, who scored 23 points in the first half. “You had to be mentally tough.”

Malcolm Grant, the Hurricanes’ leading scorer, returned after a two-game absence and scored eight points. Grant, who averages 15 points a game, left the team for two weeks because of a death in the family.

Game Notes
Career Day
Sophomore Kenny Kadji scored 23 points in the first period against UNCG on his way to 30 points for the game. Kadji also recorded a career high 12 rebounds, which marks his second double-double for the season. Kenny’s last double-double was on Dec 22, 2011 against Charlotte (18 pts., 10 reb.). The last time a Cane scored 23 in a half was Jack McClinton in the second period against UNC on Feb. 15, 2009. The last time a Cane scored 30 points was when Jack McClinton had 35 vs UNC on Feb. 15, 2009.

Milestone
With a pair of free throws in the second period, Durand Scott became the 33rd Cane in history to top the 1,000 mark. Scott needed 15 points to top the plateau and ended the game with 17.

The Rich Get Richer
Shane Larkin set his new career high point total with 18 points. His previous high was 16 against Purdue on Nov 29, 2011. He also added another four steals to his already team-leading 17, making it 21 for the season.

Making It Rain
The Miami Hurricanes scored their highest point total for the season reaching 99 tonight against the Spartans. This is one game after scoring their then second highest point total (84) against Appalachian State. The Canes also hit FAU for 93 points and UMass for 83.

He’s Back
Malcolm Grant returned to the starting line-up after missing the past two games. Grant joined Durand Scott, Trey McKinney Jones, Kenny Kadji and Reggie Johnson in the starting five.

Bench Points
Miami scored 27 points off the bench tonight. Shane Larkin (18), Rion Brown (6), and DeQuan Jones (3) each added reserve support.

Golden Arches
Rion Brown has now dropped multiple threes in the past four games, and Shane Larkin went 3-4 from beyond the arc.

Streaking
Malcolm Grant has made a three-pointer in 34-straight games dating back to the Dec. 30, 2009 game against Pepperdine.

2nd Half Adjustments
After allowing Trevis Simpson to score 24 in the first half Canes adjusted and shut him down for the last 11 minutes and 37 seconds of the second half.