Hurricanes Top Mountaineers, 84-54

Box Score | Season Stats

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) –– Durand Scott scored 17 points to lead Miami to an 84-54 win over Appalachian State Friday night.

The Hurricanes (8-4) overcame a cold-shooting start, built a 39-24 lead at halftime and never allowed the Mountaineers to get within a single-digit margin in the second half.

“That was our most consistent defensive effort for 40 minutes – well maybe 35,” Miami coach Jim Larranaga said, acknowledging a slow start. “Once we kicked it to a high level of intensity we were able to maintain it the whole game.”

Rion Brown finished with 15 points for the Hurricanes. Shane Larkin, Reggie Johnson, Trey McKinney Jones and DeQuan Jones each scored 11 points for Miami.

“I’m just happy to be out there and being with my teammates and helping,” said DeQuan Jones, who played in his second game since starting the season on suspension. “I feel as a team we’re going to get a lot better.”

Jones was initially suspended by the school for the entire season. At issue was his alleged involvement in his recruitment to MIAMI for a $10,000 fee through former Hurricanes assistant Jake Morton and ex-Miami booster Nevin Shapiro. He missed the season’s first 10 games before Miami reversed course and cleared him to play. An NCAA investigation is still ongoing.

The Hurricanes missed eight of their first nine shots before Brown and Garrius Adams hit consecutive 3-pointers as part of a 13-3 Miami spurt midway through the first half. Scott’s jumper with 8:47 left ended the surge and gave the Hurricanes a 17-10 lead.

“Coach let us know what was going on and that we needed to get to the foul line and put pressure on their defense,” Scott said “We did just that and the flow of the game came to us much easier.”

Scott shot 7 of 9 from the field and is 21 of 32 in his last three games.

Brown and Larkin hit back-to-back 3-pointers and increased the Miami lead to 25-16 with 6:33 remaining in the opening half. Larkin scored nine points in the first half. Larkin’s three-point play with 3:30 left started a 10-0 run. DeQuan Jones’ breakaway slam dunk with 45 seconds left ended the surge and gave Miami its largest lead of the first half, 39-22.

“When we started to play faster and Durand started to attack the rim, we became a better team,” Larranaga said. “We’re very pleased to win by 30 tonight.”

Andre Williamson scored 19 points to lead the Mountaineers (5-7). Appalachian State has lost five of its last six.

“I thought at the start we were in good shape, then they kicked it up a notch,” Mountaineers coach Jason Capel said. “Their combination of speed, athleticism and sheer size caused us problems.”

The Hurricanes played their second game without leading scorer Malcolm Grant. The senior guard, who averages 15 points per game, left the team last week because of a death in the family but is expected to return to the lineup for Miami’s final nonconference game of the season before ACC play, going against UNC Greensboro on Monday.

Appalachian State resumes Southern Conference play Jan. 5 at Samford.

Game Notes
If It’s Not Broke Don’t Fix It
Coach Jim Larranaga decides to go with Shane Larkin, Durand Scott, Trey McKinney Jones, Kenny Kadji and Reggie Johnson in the starting five for the second-straight game.

Coming Home
Malcolm Grant missed his past two games due to an urgent family matter and is scheduled to return against UNC Greensboro. Grant attended the game against Appalachian State but did not play.

Back-Up Power
Rion Brown came in off the bench with 15 points and Garrius Adams with three. DeQuan Jones added 11 points in the victory.

Missing Ingredient
With Reggie Johnson’s return, Durand Scott, Trey McKinney Jones and Kenny Kadji’s field goal percentages have increased dramatically. In the previous nine games they averaged .302, .429, .481 respectively. Now with Reggie back in the line up they have averaged .656, .667, and .600 respectively.

Brick Wall
Kenny Kadji has had multiple blocks in eight games this season. Against ASU, he had a pair, bringing his total to 21 for the season.

Seeing Double
Rion Brown has scored in double digits for the third time in three games.

King of Thieves
Shane Larkin leads the team in steals with 17 on the season. Three robberies by the freshman occurred tonight.

Strength in Numbers
Six Hurricanes scored in double digits against ASU. Last time the Canes had six players in double digits was against McNeese State on Nov. 24, 2010. Today’s double-digit scorers were Reggie Johnson 11, Shane Larkin 11, Durand Scott 17, Trey McKinney Jones 11, Rion Brown 15 and DeQuan Jones 11.

Making It Rain
The Miami Hurricanes scored their second most points (84) tonight and their highest margin of victory (30) against App State with an 84-54 win. This was second only to the 93 points against FAU.

First Appearance
Justin Heller played the second minutes of his career, recording two rebounds.

Sharp Shooting Continues
The Canes have shot better than 50 percent in three-straight games, shooting 54 percent (27-50) at Charlotte, 62 percent (31-50) against FAU, and 28-of-51 (54.9%) tonight against Appalachian State.