Miami Falls to Xavier in Overtime, 83-70

Nov. 27, 2004

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By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP) – Brian Thorton had 17 points and Stanley Burrell and JustinDoellman combined for 12 in overtime to help Xavier beat Miami 83-70 Saturdayin the second game of the Orange Bowl Classic.

The Muskateers (2-1) nearly won in regulation, taking a 65-62 lead onDedrick Finn’s three-point play with 13.8 seconds left. But Miami tied it onRobert Hite’s long 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds remaining, a shot that seeminglygave the Hurricanes all the momentum.

Xavier, though, was unfazed. The Muskateers made their first six shots ofovertime, opening the extra session with a 12-3 run that sealed the win.

Finn finished with 15, with Justin Cage and Doellman each adding 10 forXavier, which got 11 rebounds from Thorton.

Hite finished with 20 for Miami, which missed 11 of 13 shots in overtime andfinished with just three field goals in the final 11:38.

Doellman opened overtime with a 3-pointer, and Xavier would never againtrail. Will Frisby had four points in a 36-second span to keep Miami within70-68, but the Muskateers – who were aided by four missed shots on one Miamipossession alone – scored seven straight to pull away.

Guillermo Diaz had 16 points and seven assists for Miami (1-2), with Frisbyscoring 14 and Anthony Harris finishing with 13 – all in the first half.

The game was tied seven times in the first 13 minutes, then featured aseries of brief bursts where one team would threaten to pull away – only to goimmediately go cold.

Miami used a 9-0 run to build a 30-23 lead late in the half, only to seeXavier answer with a 10-1 run for a 33-31 advantage. Anthony King’s putback atthe halftime buzzer drew Miami into a tie at 33; King led Miami with 11rebounds.

Early in the second half, an 11-0 run put the Muskateers up 49-39 with 14:10remaining – but Miami came back with seven straight points, all from Frisby, todraw within 56-54.

But Miami missed 17 of its final 20 shots and finished shooting 37.3percent, compared to 48.4 for Xavier.