Miami Hosts Lafayette This Saturday

Miami Hosts Lafayette This Saturday

Nov. 22, 2006

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LAFAYETTE COLLEGE (1-4)
vs.
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (3-2)
When: November 25, 2006 – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: BankUnited Center (7,000) – Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: None
Radio: WQAM (560 AM), WVUM (90.5 FM)
Websites: UM (www.hurricanesports.com); LC (www.goleopards.com)
Tickets: $15, $20, $25 – For tickets call (305) 284-CANE
Up Next: at Northwestern, Nov. 28 at 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

THE MATCHUP:

The University of Miami hosts Lafayette College looking to get back in the win column following back-to-back losses to Buffalo and Cleveland State at the America’s Youth Classic in Evansville, Ind. Lafayette enters the game with a 1-4 record after a 86-51 loss at University of Maryland-Baltimore County on Tuesday. The loss is Lafayette’s fourth straight after a season opening win against Wagner. The Leopards have been led in scoring this season by junior guard/forward Matt Betley who is averaging 12.4 points per game. Betley also leads the team in rebounding (3.4 rpg) and ranks second in assists (2.8 apg). He is shooting 60.0 percent (21-35) from the field. The undersized Leopards have been outrebounded by at least 10 in all five of their games this season. In the loss to UMBC they were outrebounded 39-17. Last season Lafayette ranked 308th in the nation in rebound margin. Miami enters the game with a 3-2 record following a 78-67 loss to Cleveland State in the final game of the America’s Youth Classic in Evansville, Ind. Sophomore transfer Jack McClinton has led the team in scoring in each of the last four games and is the only Hurricane averaging in double-figures this season (18.6 ppg). McClinton has scored in double-figures in every game this season including three games of 20 points or more. He has been deadly from long range connecting on 16-30 (.533) from behind the arc. Senior center Anthony King ranks second on the team in scoring at 9.6 points per game, and has been a monster on the glass pulling down a team-high 11.6 rebounds per game. He also leads the team in blocks (2.4 bpg) and is shooting a team-best 58.8 percent (20-34) from the field. Miami’s defense is holding teams to just 37.8 percent shooting from the field.

LAST TIME OUT:
CLEVELAND STATE 78, MIAMI 67
America’s Youth Classic
November 19, 2006
Roberts Stadium, Evansville, Ind.

J’Nathan Bullock scored 19 points and Victor Morris added 17 as Cleveland State beat Miami 78-67 at the America’s Youth Classic in Evansville, Ind. The Vikings did most of their damage from outside, with Morris, Carlos English and Raheem Moss each hitting three three-pointers. Cleveland State, which entered the game shooting 27.4 percent for three-point range, made 11-23 (.478) from behind the arc against the Hurricanes. Most of Bullock’s scoring came from the foul line, where he hit 10-of-12 shots. He made four straight free throws in the final minute to help seal the victory. The Hurricanes trailed 35-30 at halftime and were still within five points before a three-pointer by Moss with just over six minutes remaining. Cleveland State took its biggest lead at 78-65 with two free throws by Joe Davis with 27 seconds to go. Davis added 11 points off the bench for the Vikings. Miami was led by Jack McClinton with 20 points, Anthony Harris with 13 points and Anthony King with six points and 12 rebounds.

LAST TIME AGAINST LAFAYETTE:
MIAMI 79, LAFAYETTE 69
November 24, 2001
Miami Arena, Miami, FL

Sophomore Darius Rice scored 15 of his team-high 20 points in the second half to lead the University of Miami to a 79-69 win over Lafayette at Miami Arena. With the win the Hurricanes improve to 4-0 on the season, its best start since the 1997-98 season. The Hurricanes took a 38-30 halftime lead, but the Leopards (1-2) cut it to one point with a 7-0 run to start the second half. Miami then came back with a 21-1 run, led by three 3-point baskets from Rice. Rice hit 5-of-7 from long range in the second half. Sophomore guard Marcus Barnes, who did not play in the first half after being late to practice earlier in the week, hit two three-pointers and finished with 12 points in 13 minutes. Michael Simmons, who started in place of Barnes, scored 11 points, and James Jones added 10 for Miami. Winston Davis led Lafayette with 15 points.

A WIN OVER LAFAYETTE WOULD:
***Improve Miami’s record to 4-2 this season.
***Improve Miami’s record against Lafayette to 4-1.
***Mark Miami’s third straight win against the Leopards.
***Improve Miami’s all-time record against Patriot League opponents to 18-4.

THE SERIES:

Miami and Lafayette meet for the fifth time with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series, 3-1. Miami and Lafayette last met on November 24, 2001 with the Hurricanes coming away with a 79-69 win at Miami Arena.

TV/RADIO:

The Miami-Lafayette game is not being televised. 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 will also be broadcast 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 37-31 (.544) including a 3-2 mark this season. Lafayette head coach Fran O’Hanlon is in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, all with the Leopards. His record at Lafayette is 163-156 (.511).

MIAMI VERSUS THE PATRIOT LEAGUE:

Miami is 17-4 all-time against Patriot League opponents including a 9-3 mark since the rebirth of the program in 1985. Miami has won its last five games against Patriot League teams with the last loss coming on January 14, 1991, a 75-57 loss to Lafayette.

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:

Since UM began conference play in 1991-92, the Hurricanes have compiled an 113-54 (.665) record against non-conference opponents, including a 80-17 (.825) mark at home. The Hurricanes are 26-3 (.897) against non-conference opponents at the BankUnited Center.

MCCLINTON NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT:

Miami sophomore Jack McClinton was named to the All-Tournament team at the America’s Youth Classic, November 17-19, in Evansville, Ind. McClinton was the Hurricanes leading scorer in all three games averaging 19.3 points for the tournament.

America’s Youth All-Tournament Team
Matt Webster, Evansville (MVP)
Kyle Anslinger, Evansville
Yassin Idbihi, Buffalo
Jack McClinton, Miami
J’Nathan Bullock, Cleveland State

THE ONE AND ONLY:

Senior Anthony King pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds against Evansville becoming the first Hurricane since the program’s rebirth in 1985 to open a season with three games of 10-or-more rebounds. King opened the season with 15 rebounds against Florida International and then pulled down 10 boards against Alcorn State.

STREAKING:

Anthony King has made 68 consecutive starts for the Hurricanes over the last three seasons marking the sixth longest streak in school-history. With a start against Lafayette he will move into a tie for fifth with Guillermo Diaz who started 69 straight games from 2003-06.

Consecutive Games Started:
Kevin Norris, 1994-98 108
John Salmons, 1998-02 106
James Jones, 1999-03 89
Jerome Scott, 1990-92 72
Guillermo Diaz, 2003-06 69
Anthony King, 2004-06 68

ONE OF TWO:

Anthony King opened the season with two straight double-doubles. King is just the second person since the rebirth of the UM basketball program in 1985 to open the season with two straight double-doubles joining Eric Brown in 1985.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE:

Freshman Dwayne Collins made a memorable debut against Florida International recording 10 points and 12 rebounds. He is the first UM freshman to record a double-double in a Hurricane debut since Lemuel Howard posted 13 points and 10 rebounds against Central Florida on November 28, 1986.

HURRICANES SIGN THREE:

The University of Miami has received three commitments during the November early signing period. Joining the Hurricanes next season will be 6-0 point guard Edwin Rios (Miami Senior High School), 6-9 forward Julian Gamble (Southern Durham High School) and 6-10 center Freddy Asprilla (Miami Calusa Prep).

ANYONE GOT A DIME:

Senior Anthony Harris has recorded 251 career assists which ranks 10th all-time at Miami. Harris needs seven assists to move into ninth-place.

OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:

Since the 1998-99 season the Hurricanes are 44-4 (.917) when shooting 50 percent or better from the field. Miami is 10-0 when shooting 50 percent or better under head coach Frank Haith. Miami’s last loss when shooting over 50 percent was January 10, 2004 against Pittsburgh. That night the Panthers defeated the Hurricanes 84-80 in 2OT despite a 50.8 percent shooting performance by UM.

HOLDING TEAMS UNDER 100:

The Hurricanes have not allowed an opponent to reach the century mark in 468 consecutive games. The last team to reach the 100-point plateau was Miami (OH) on December 27, 1990 in a 101-99 double-overtime victory over UM. The last team to score 100 points against the Hurricanes in a non-overtime game was at Providence on February 21, 1990, a 101-67 Friar victory. Miami has not allowed a team to score 100 points at home since Kansas defeated Miami 100-73 on January 10, 1990, a current streak of 253 games.

NOT IN MY HOUSE:

Forward Anthony King has recorded 169 career blocked shots placing him fourth on UM’s all-time list. He is only 23 blocks shy of tying James Jones for third.

MCCLINTON FOR 20:

Miami’s Jack McClinton has recorded three 20-point games this season ranking No. 1 among ACC players as of November 20. Tyler Hansbrough (UNC) and Kyle Visser (Wake Forest) rank second with two apiece.

KING AMONG ACC ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS:

Senior Anthony King leads all active ACC players in career blocked shots with 169 and ranks second in rebounding with 569. Only Boston College’s Jared Dudley has more career rebounds (713).