Miami Faces South Carolina for Charleston Classic Championship
Nov. 21, 2009
Charleston Classic Photo Gallery | LIVE Stats
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team takes on South Carolina in the championship game of the Charleston Classic on Sun., Nov. 22, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Game 5: Miami (4-0) vs. South Carolina (4-0)
Date: Sun., Nov. 22, 2009 | Time: 6 p.m. (EST) | Site: Carolina First Arena
TV: ESPN2 | Radio: 560 WQAM
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | South Carolina (gamecocksonline.com) | Charleston Classic (www.charlestonclassic.com)
Tickets: (843) 953-2632
Projected Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
01 Durand Scott (G, 6-3, 195, Fr.) 7.5 4.3 6.3
23 James Dews (G, 6-4, 213, Sr.) 12.0 2.5 1.3
31 DeQuan Jones (G/F, 6-6, 219, So.) 5.5 3.0 0.8^
20 Cyrus McGowan (F, 6-9, 237, Sr.) 7.0 4.8 2.0*
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 241, Sr.) 13.0 8.5 1.3
Projected South Carolina Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
02 Devan Downey (G, 5-9, 170, Sr.) 16.0 2.8 4.5
21 Dominique Archie (F, 6-7, 216, Sr.) 16.3 7.0 1.0*
24 Mike Holmes (F/C, 6-7, 230, Jr.) 12.3 4.8 0.8*
30 Lakeem Jackson (F, 6-5, 225, Fr.) 4.0 3.0 2.5
44 Sam Muldrow (F, 6-9, 220, Jr.) 7.3 4.5 3.3*
^ steals per game | * blocks per game
The Hurricanes battled back to defeat UNC Wilmington, 67-60, on Friday for their fourth-straight win of the season to advance to the title game.
In 2007, Miami knocked off three teams to win the inaugural Puerto Rico Classic. Miami also defeated a Colonial Athletic Association team (VCU, 69-63) en route to winning the championship game over Providence.
50-50
The Hurricanes have converted at least 50 percent of their field goals in all four games so far this season and in six of eight halves in 2009-10. Miami hit at least half of their shots in both halves in the season-opening victory over North Carolina Central and in Friday’s Charleston Classic second-round win over UNC Wilmington.
THE SERIES
Sunday’s game between the Hurricanes and Gamecocks marks the ninth meeting between the programs, with Miami leading the all-time series, 5-3. The teams last met in the first round of the NIT on March 15, 2005, in Coach Haith’s inaugural season as head coach. South Carolina edged Miami in Columbia, 69-67, on Josh Gonner’s driving basket with 2.1 seconds remaining in the game.
DO IT NOW
Don’t count the Hurricanes out… Miami rallied from a 14-point deficit with 6:09 remaining in the first half versus UNC Wilmington to take the 27-26 halftime advantage and go on to the 67-60 victory. Malcolm Grant scored eight of his game-high 18 points to fuel that 19-4 UM run and the ‘Canes would not trail again.
The 14 points marked the highest deficit overcome by Miami since a 62-60 win over Maryland on Jan. 14, 2009. Trailing 52-35 with 12:30 to go in the game, the Hurricanes nailed seven three-pointers to rally from that 17-point second half deficit.
LAST TIME OUT
Malcolm Grant scored 18 points to lead Miami over UNC Wilmington, 67-60, to advance to Sunday’s title game.
The Hurricanes (4-0) led 62-58 with 29 seconds to play and forced two Seahawks’ turnovers to hold on.
Trailing by 14 with 6:09 to play in the first half, UM went on a 19-4 run for the 27-26 halftime lead. Over that span, the Hurricanes forced five Seahawk turnovers and converted 5-of-7 field goals, while UNCW hit just 2-of-10 attempts.
James Dews added 17 points for Miami — yet did not attempt a three-pointer for just the third time in his career and the first time since his freshman season on Feb. 21, 2007, in a win over Virginia. Cyrus McGowan finished with nine points, a game-high nine rebounds and a career-high five blocks. Dews and Grant were a combined 14-of-20 from the field.
UM scored a season-high 42 points in the paint versus the Seahawks. The last time the Hurricanes were as productive in the lane was in their 2008-09 season opening win over Florida Southern, when they scored 42 of 96 points in the area.
Miami head coach Frank Haith improved to 6-0 versus non-conference teams from North Carolina — the state in which he attended high school and college and got his start in coaching.
NEW SEASON, NEW LOOK
The Hurricanes have retired their orange uniforms and are bringing back alternate green uniforms for the first time since 2006-07. Miami will generally wear white at home and either black or green on the road. The Hurricanes’ debuted their green unis in Friday’s win over UNC Wilmington.
