Hurricanes Down Oral Roberts in Las Vegas Opener

Las Vegas, Nev. (AP) – Malcolm Grant scored 15 points to lead Miami to a 69-56 victory over Oral Roberts on Tuesday at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.

The Hurricanes (8-3), who won for the sixth time in seven outings, also had Reggie Johnson post his sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, Durand Scott with 14 points and three assists and Garrius Adams with 10 points.

DeQuan Jones added eight points and two blocks for his third-straight game with eight-or-more points.

Miami started the second half with an 11-2 run that erased a 33-28 halftime deficit and provided a 39-35 lead with 15:44 left.

After two free throws by Grant — who finished a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe — gave Miami a 37-35 advantage, the Golden Eagles (4-7) never reclaimed the lead.

Dominique Morrison led the Golden Eagles with 20 points, while Damen Bell-Holter had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Miami held a shooting advantage of 52.4 percent (22 of 42) to Oral Roberts’ 35.5 percent (18 of 51), while also converting 81.5 percent from the line (22-27). The Hurricanes also outrebounded the Golden Eagles 34-30.

Tonight’s Starters
Starting for Miami this afternoon was Durand Scott, Malcolm Grant, Garrius Adams, Donnavan Kirk and Reggie Johnson. It marked the third career start for Kirk and the first time this lineup has started for the ‘Canes.

On the Double
Reggie Johnson notched his sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, a career-high tying two steals and a block. Those six double-doubles tie for the second most in the ACC this season and ties for the 12th most in a season in UM history with Dwayne Collins (2006-07), John Salmons (2001-02), Mario Bland (1998-99) and Eric Brown (1985-86).

From the Line
Malcolm Grant went 9-for-9 from the charity stripe versus Oral Roberts and has hit 34 of his last 35 attempts from the charity stripe (.971) over the last seven games. Grant, who is shooting 90 percent from the line for the season, has made 29-straight free throws, last missing a shot from the line with 51 seconds remaining in the first half in the Dec. 4 win over West Virginia.

Durand Scott added a 5-of-6 performance from the charity stripe and is shooting 83.3 percent for the season.

Thomas for Three
Adrian Thomas hit a three-pointer for the sixth-straight game and now has a trey in 53 of his last 59 games. His 139 career threes rank ninth most in Miami program history.

As a team, the Hurricanes shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc — tying a season low with just three three-pointers. Thomas, Durand Scott and Garrius Adams each hit a trey for the Hurricanes.

A First
Miami’s win over Oral Roberts marked its first win on a neutral court this season.UM is now 1-1 on a neutral court and 2-2 away from Coral Gables this season.

Miami will also have its first ever meetings with Rice (Wed., Dec. 22, 3 p.m. EST) and Akron (Thurs., Dec. 23, 3 p.m. EST) this week.

Hurricane Warning
Miami has now defeated 29 of its last 32 non-conference opponents.