Miami to Face FAU in Orange Bowl Basketball Classic

Aug. 4, 2011

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami will take on Florida Atlantic in the 2011 Orange Bowl Basketball Classic on Dec. 17 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.

The Hurricanes and Owls will meet for the 22nd time in program history in the annual doubleheader. Miami – making its 17th appearance in the 18th annual Classic – leads the all-time series versus FAU, 20-1.  The last meeting between the two teams was an 85-62 Miami win over the Owls on March 16, 2011 in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament in Coral Gables.

Miami and FAU are scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. and will be followed by a matchup between Florida and Texas A&M.

Under the guidance of new Miami head coach Jim Larranaga, the Hurricanes return 86 percent of their scoring, 93 percent of their assists and 88 percent of their rebounding with a veteran squad in 2011-12. UM loses just one player (Adrian Thomas) from a team that went 21-15 and advanced to the NIT quarterfinals.

Miami returns leading scorer Malcolm Grant (14.8 ppg, 3.2 apg) – an All-ACC Third Team pick in 2011 – and junior Durand Scott (13.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg).

FAU, who went 21-11 a season ago and won the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title, returns four starters under fourth-year head coach Mike Jarvis.

Tickets will be available through the Hurricane Ticket Office (HurricaneSports.com/1-800-GO-CANES) on a date to be announced.