Hurricanes Host North Carolina Central on Saturday
Jan. 2, 2009
CORAL GABLES, FLA… – The University of Miami men’s basketball team takes on North Carolina Central on Saturday at 1 p.m. in game two of a three-game homestand at the BankUnited Center.
Game 13: Miami (9-3) vs. North Carolina Central (0-15)
Date: Sat., Jan. 3, 2009 | Time: 1 p.m. (EST) | Site: BankUnited Center
TV: Sun Sports | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: None
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | North Carolina Central (www.nccueaglepride.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.) 7.6 1.5 2.4
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Sr.) 17.3 2.3 2.9
32 Brian Asbury (G/F, 6-7, 221,Sr.) 6.8 5.0 1.3
20 Cyrus McGowan (F, 6-9, 236, R-Jr.) 7.9 6.1 1.1^
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 238, Jr.) 11.2 8.0 1.3*
Projected North Carolina Central Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
10 Jamar Briscoe (G, 5-10, 155, Fr.) 14.1 1.7 2.8
12 Bryan Ayala (G, 6-3, 190, Sr.) 12.0 5.5 4.5
24 Vincent Davis (G, 6-2, 170, So.) 11.5 4.4 1.9*
30 Stevy Worah-Ozimo (C, 6-9, 220, Jr.) 8.3 8.9 1.1^
53 Norbert Randall (F, 6-6, 246, So.) 5.3 4.0 1.0^
^ blocks per game * steals per game
The Hurricanes, winners of two-straight and five of their last six games, face the Eagles for the first time in program history on Saturday. Miami has won nine of its last 11 homes games and is 42-6 (.875) versus non-conference opponents at the BankUnited Center.
ACC CAREER LEADERS
Jack McClinton leads the ACC with a .436 career three-point field goal percentage and ranks second all-time in the ACC with an .896 career free throw percentage. McClinton is also shooting an ACC-best .456 from beyond the arc in 2008-09 and has hit a three-pointer in 15-straight games – the second-longest active streak in the ACC.
Among active players in the ACC, McClinton ranks fifth overall with 1,292 career points. However, the transfer is the top scoring ACC player among those in their third (or less) ACC season.
Dwayne Collins ranks fourth among active players in the ACC with 523 career rebounds.
WHAT HAVE U DONE FOR ME LATELY
Jack McClinton is averaging 20.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game over his last four appearances, shooting .542 from the field, .522 from long range and .810 from the line. Dwayne Collins is also averaging double-figure points over his last three outings with 11.3 points at a .609 clip and 6.3 rebounds an outing. Cyrus McGowan is contributing just below double figures with 9.5 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last four games, while converting 10-of-12 free throw attempts (.833).
WINNING BIG
The Hurricanes bid farewell to 2008 with a 94-41 win over North Florida on New Year’s Eve at the BankUnited Center. The 53 point margin of victory marked the largest for Miami since its school-record 69-point win over Rollins in a 148-79 decision on Feb. 23, 1965 — 43 years ago. Rick Barry had a UM-record 59 points and 27 rebounds (tied for third best in program history) in that game.
The Hurricanes have defeated seven of 12 opponents this season by double-figures, including three wins of 35-plus points and four wins of 25-plus points.
Under Coach Haith, 59.0 percent of Miami’s wins are by double figures — defeating 46 opponents by 10-plus points, including a season-high 13 in 2007-08.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hurricanes built the 53-17 rebounding advantage over North Florida in Wednesday’s win. UNF’s season-low 17 boards were the fewest for a Miami opponent in 20 years — since Coppin State finished with 12 in a 64-54 UM win on Jan. 20, 1988.
Jack McClinton finished with 17 points to pass John Salmons for 17th place among UM’s all-time leading scorers with 1,292 career points — just one point shy of 16th place. It marked his 36th double-figure scoring game in his last 38 outings.
With 56 second-half points, the Hurricanes have scored 50 or more points in half twice this season (53 points in the second half vs. Florida Southern, 11/15).
ON THE DOUBLE
Cyrus McGowan and Julian Gamble each finished with a double-double, marking the first time two Hurricanes posted a double-double in the same game since Anthony King (19 points, 15 rebounds) and Dwayne Collins (10 points, 12 rebounds) managed the feat on Nov. 11, 2006, in a 73-50 win over FIU.
It was McGowan’s second double-double of the season, as he registered a career-high 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. He shot 5-of-7 from the field, 1-of-2 from long range and a career-best 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Gamble posted his first career double-double with a career-high 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. He is one of just five ACC freshmen to have posted a double-double so far this season.
A LOOK AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
The 0-15 Eagles have played a challenging schedule to date, including 13 road games in 11 different states versus opponents such as Wake Forest, Arkansas and Michigan. Saturday’s game at Miami is the fourth-straight road game for North Carolina Central who is in its second season as an NCAA Division I program. The Eagles return to the court following Monday’s 77-57 loss at Michigan – however the Eagles trailed by just seven points at intermission and were within eight points with less than eight minutes remaining in the contest before the Wolverines pulled away.
