Men's Basketball Opens Three-Game Homestand vs. FIU
Dec. 11, 2008
CORAL GABLES, FLA… – The No. 25 University of Miami men’s basketball team opens a three-game homestand at the BankUnited Center on Fri., Dec. 12, playing host to crosstown-rival FIU at 7:30 p.m.
Game 8: No. 25 Miami (5-2) vs. FIU (4-5)
Date: Fri., Dec. 12, 2008 | Time: 7:30 p.m. (EST) | Site: BankUnited Center
TV: None | Radio: 560 WQAM, 1450 ESPN Deportes | Internet Video: None
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | FIU (www.fiusports.com)
Tickets: 1-800-GO-CANES
Projected Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
01 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 183, Sr.) 9.3 1.2 2.8
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Sr.) 16.3 1.7 2.4
23 James Dews (G, 6-4, 209, Jr.) 7.7 2.4 1.0*
20 Cyrus McGowan (F, 6-9, 236, R-Jr.) 8.1 6.7 0.9^
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 238, Jr.) 11.7 9.3 1.3
Projected FIU Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
15 Nikola Gacesa (F, 6-9, 238, Jr.) 12.2 4.4 0.6
34 Michael Dominguez (G, 6-3, 185, Jr.) 9.8 4.8 1.8
03 Tremayne Russell (G, 6-0, 180, So.) 9.2 2.7 1.6
21 Cedric Essola (F, 6-9, 215, Jr.) 6.7 4.2 0.7
23 Nick Taylor (G, 5-10, 165, So.) 4.3 3.3 3.4
^ blocks per game * steals per game
HOME SWEET HOME
The Hurricanes kick off a three-game homestand with Friday’s contest versus crosstown-rival FIU. Miami has won six of their last seven games at home and has won 10 of its last 11 non-conference games at the BankUnited Center.
Miami has won 28 of its last 31 games versus unranked non-conference opponents and 16 of its last 19 games overall at the BankUnited Center. Under head coach Frank Haith, Miami is 29-5 (.853) versus non-conference opponents at the BankUnited Center and 46-20 (.697) overall at home.
THE SERIES
Friday marks the 13th game between Miami and FIU, with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series, 11-1 — winning by an average of 17 points per game. UM has won five straight over the Golden Panthers, including a 67-53 win in their last meeting at FIU on Dec. 8, 2007.
Jack McClinton, Dwayne Collins and James Dews all made their Hurricane debuts in a 73-50 season-opening win over FIU on Nov. 11, 2006 at the BankUnited Center. Collins, who leads UM averaging 12.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games versus the Golden Panthers, became the first Hurricane to post a double-double in a debut since 1986 after finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds in that win over FIU.
McClinton and Jimmy Graham also average double-figure scoring versus FIU, with 11.0 and 10.0 points, respectively.
ACC teams are 88-12 all-time versus teams from the Sun Belt.
A SEASON FOR GIVING
The Miami men’s & women’s basketball teams have teamed up with the United States Marine Corps & the BankUnited Center to participate in the 2008 holiday Toys for Tots Program, collecting toys for underpriviledged children this season.
All fans that bring an unwrapped toy with them to any of the following games (Men: FIU, Robert Morris: Women: Binghamton, Grambling State) will receive a free ticket voucher for each unwrapped toy donated.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Hurricanes picked up the program’s first win at Rupp Arena on Saturday with a 73-67 victory over Kentucky in front of 24,109 blue-clad fans. Under Coach Haith, Miami has won on some of the most challenging courts — including victories at North Carolina, Florida and now Kentucky.
In 2008-09 alone, the Hurricanes will play at some of the most historic venues in college basketball — Rupp Arena (Dec. 6 vs. Kentucky), Madison Square Garden (Dec. 27 vs. St. John’s), the Dean E. Smith Center (Jan. 17 vs. North Carolina) and Cameron Indoor Stadium (Feb. 7 vs. Duke).
Under Haith, the Hurricanes have won two-straight road games versus SEC opponents — downing Kentucky 73-67 in Lexington on Dec. 6 and snapping Mississippi State’s 23-game home December win streak with a 64-58 victory in Starkville on Dec. 13, 2007. Haith’s Hurricanes have won three of four road games overall at SEC schools since he took over the program in 2004-05.
HE’S BAAACK
Jack McClinton posted his second 20-plus scoring game of the season — and the 23rd of his Miami career — with a game-high 23 points in last Saturday’s win over Kentucky. With those 23 points, McClinton moved up three spots into a tie for 19th place among Miami’s all-time leading scorers with 1,199 points. In just his third season with the Hurricanes, McClinton is averaging 17.1 points per game over his career and is 32 points shy of moving into 18th place.
BACK ON TRACK
James Dews returned to form in the win at Kentucky, scoring a season-high 18 points, shooting 4-of-6 from long range and 6-of-8 from the field. The guard, who averaged 10.3 points per game as a sophomore to rank second on the team in scoring, was averaging 6.0 points an outing entering Saturday’s game.
Dews got Miami off to a fast start in Lexington, scoring the first points of the game on a three-pointer just 23 seconds in, then added another three pointer less than two minutes later to extend UM’s lead to four. He also hit a pair of threes in the final 1:04 of the opening half to push Miami’s halftime lead to 20 points, 46-26. It marked the largest halftime lead for the Hurricanes since a 45-25 lead at the break over North Carolina A&T on Dec. 23, 2007.
Dews’ 18 points were just two shy of his career high 20 set versus Georgia Tech on Jan. 12, 2008, while his four three-pointers tied a career high.
