Miami Falls to N.C. State in Overtime Heart Breaker, 84-81
Jan. 27, 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Freshman Julius Mays buried a straightaway 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left in overtime to help North Carolina State beat Miami 84-81 on Tuesday night.
Courtney Fells had 24 points to lead the Wolfpack (11-7, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who blew a 19-point lead early in the second half and a pair of leads late in regulation and the extra period before holding on to end a two-game losing streak. Brandon Costner added 21 points and Ben McCauley had 12.
Despite fighting a stomach bug entering the game, Jack McClinton led the Hurricanes’ effort with a game-high 27 points, including three three-pointers. Four Miami players finished with double-figure points for the ninth time this season, as Dwayne Collins added 18 points, Adrian Thomas — in his first career start — added a career-high 14 points and Brian Asbury finished with 11. Thomas hit a career-high four three-pointers, including one in overtime to bring the Hurricanes within one point with 1:51 to go.
With 24 seconds remaining in overtime, McClinton hit three-straight free throws to knot the score at 81-all.
But Mays, NC State’s backup point guard, came up with the game’s biggest play. With the clock winding down in a tie game, Mays pulled up and launched a 3-pointer that looked desperate. Instead the shot dropped through the net, forcing the Hurricanes (14-6, 3-4) to rely on a halfcourt heave from Lance Hurdle that hit the backboard and rim before falling away.
The Hurricanes trailed by as many as 19 points with 19:09 remaining in regulation. A Thomas 3-pointer sparked a 26-7 Miami run as the Hurricanes took the 56-53 lead on a Collins dunk with 6:48 to go.
Miami remains on the road for its next ACC game — taking on Maryland on Sat., Jan. 31, at 8 p.m.
