Men's Hoops Tops Hatters in Season Opener

November 9, 2012

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – Reggie Johnson scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Miami held off Stetson 87-79 on Friday in the season opener for both teams.

Kenny Kadji finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Miami, which trailed by seven late in the first half, then wasted most of a 13-point second-half lead before hanging on in the final minutes. Trey McKinney Jones scored 14 points, Shane Larkin added 13 and Rion Brown had 10 for Miami.

Adam Pegg scored 22 points, Aaron Graham added 21 and Chris Perez finished with 12 for Stetson, which shot 13 for 31 from 3-point range.

The Hurricanes played without guard Durand Scott, who still has two games remaining on a suspension imposed by the NCAA late last season for receiving impermissible benefits.

Stetson – a team that went 9-20 last season and a program that hasn’t finished with a record better than .500 since 2000-01 – was down 67-54 with 7:36 left, then came roaring back.

Pegg made a pair of 3-pointers, the second of them off a set play out of a time out, to get the Hatters within three with about 3 minutes left. And after Perez grabbed an offensive rebound, scored and got fouled with 2:03 remaining, Stetson was within 76-74.

The Hatters got no closer. Johnson bullied his way free for a layup that put Miami up six with a minute left, then found McKinney Jones for another layup that sealed it on the next Hurricane possession.

Miami – a team with hopes of contending in the Atlantic Coast Conference despite losing an exhibition game to Division II St. Leo earlier this month – struggled early. By the time the Hurricanes had seven field goals of any kind, Stetson had already made six 3-pointers, and the Hatters led for much of the first half.

All the Hurricanes had to rely on early was Johnson, the 6-foot-10, 292-pounder who’s listed as 32 pounds heavier than anyone on the Stetson roster. Johnson had five rebounds in the first half, all of them offensive, and he turned those second chances into nine points. The last five of those came in the final 2:01 of the half, and the teams were tied at 34 at the break.

A spurt to start the second half gave Miami some real control for the first time.

Brown made a 3-pointer to open the half, Miami scored six quick points to build what was then its biggest lead, and after McKinney Jones made three free throws with 7:36 remaining, the Hurricanes’ lead was up to 67-54.

Season tickets, mini-plans and non-coference single-game tickets are on sale now, and can be purchase at CanesTix.com or by calling the BankUnited Center Ticket Office at 305.284.2263. The ticket office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Game Notes:

Starters for the season opener were Shane Larkin, Rion Brown, Trey McKinney Jones, Kenny Kadji and Reggie Johnson.

Rion Brown scored Miami’s first points of the season, a three from the left wing, giving Miami the 3-0 lead.

Miami’s first subs off the bench were senior Julian Gamble and freshman Bishop Daniels at the under 16 minute timeout. 

Bishop Daniels’ first points while wearing a Miami jersey came from a three-pointer with 9:32 remaining in the first half.

After sitting out last season with an injury, Julian Gamble’s first points were a dunk off of a pass from Bishop Daniels with eight minutes remaining in the first half.

Reggie Johnson was 10-for-14 at the free throw line, both career highs.

Miami took the lead in the first minute of the game and didn’t lead again until the last minute of the first half.

Reggie Johnson recorded his 15th-career double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds against Stetson. Johnson’s last double-double was in Miami’s win over Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 5, 2012. Johnson totaled 13 double doubles as a sophomore and one as a junior. 

Kenny Kadji recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The last time two Canes recorded double-doubles in the same game were Brian Asbury (16 points, 15 rebounds) and Dwayne Collins (10 points, 15 rebounds) on March 4, 2009.

Kenny Kadji set a new career high in assists with five. His previous record was three, most recently at NC State on Feb. 29, 2012.

Trey McKinney Jones notched 14 points, a career high, by hitting five of his 10 shots. His previous best was 13 twice last season, the last time against Maryland on Feb. 21. 

Shane Larkin set a new career high in assists with six. His previous record was five, most recently at Florida State on March 9th, 2012.

Against Stetson, all five Hurricane starters scored in double digits: Reggie Johnson (22), Trey McKinney Jones (14), Shane Larkin (13) Kenny Kadji (12) and Rion Brown (10). The last time five Canes scored in double figures was on Feb. 1, 2012 against Maryland.

The Hurricanes have made a three-point basket in 345-straight games and have made at least one trey in 802 of 805 games since the NCAA adopted the three-point shot in 1986. 

Miami has held 659 of its last 660 opponents to less than 100 points. UNC was the last team to score 100+, defeating UM 105-64 on Jan. 31, 2007.

Miami is 49-14 in season openers, has won 20-straight season openers, and 20-straight home openers. Coach Larranaga is now 2-0 in openers at UM.