Larkin Leads MBB Over La Salle, 76-59

January 2, 2013

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – Shane Larkin and Durand Scott scored 18 points each to lead Miami to a 76-59 victory over La Salle on Wednesday night.

Miami took the lead for good with a 16-2 run midway through the second half. Larkin keyed the surge with consecutive 3-pointers. The second of those, with 8:32 remaining, gave the Hurricanes (9-3) their first double-digit lead at 57-47.

Erik Swoope’s basket with 7:02 remaining ended the spurt and increased Miami’s lead to 61-47.

Tyrone Garland’s layup with 6:46 left ended a scoring drought of 3:40 for the Explorers. Garland scored a game-high 20 points to lead LaSalle (9-3).

Scott and Larkin combined to score 26 points in the second half.

Trey McKinney Jones and Kenny Kadji finished with 14 points each for the Hurricanes, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Miami lost the final two games of the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii against Arizona and Indiana State on Dec. 24 and 25.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for La Salle, which was attempting to start a season at 10-2 for the first time since 1989-90.

The Hurricanes rallied from a six-point deficit at halftime and outscored the Explorers 10-2 in the first 3:15 of the second half. Scott’s layup with 16:55 remaining ended the early second-half spurt and gave Miami a 40-38 lead.

The Explorers broke open a close first half with a 12-0 run during a late 2:17 stretch. Ramon Galloway hit two 3-pointers and Garland converted three short jumpers during the surge. Garland’s basket with 2:03 remaining in the half ended the run and gave the Explorers a 36-25 lead.

Miami cut the lead to 36-30 at halftime on Julian Gamble’s layup and Larkin’s 3-point play.

La Salle made 6 of 13 3-pointers in the first half but managed only 1 of 8 behind the arc in the second half. Galloway also was held scoreless as he missed all four of his attempts.

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 Miami: Shane Larkin, Durand Scott, Trey McKinney Jones, Kenny Kadji and Julian Gamble. 

Shane Larkin drained three from distance on his way to 18 points, his second game this season with more than 16 points. 

Trey McKinney Jones notched 14 points against La Salle. His season best is 18 vs. Michigan State. He also had 14 vs. Stetson in the season opener. 

Kenny Kadji pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with his 14 points for his seventh career double-double, and third of the season. In the past five games, Kadji has grabbed 36 boards for the Canes. 

Durand Scott totaled 18 points, his 17th-straight game in double digits. 

Julian Gamble grabbed eight rebounds against La Salle, the second-most of the season behind his 13 at Hawai’i. Gamble has at least eight rebounds in three of his last four games. 

Halfway through the first half, Trey McKinney Jones hit a three from the right side, connecting on UM’s first 3-pointer since the game against No. 4/5 Arizona. Miami was held without a three by Indiana State. 

Erik Swoope added four points, four rebounds, an assist and a block in his season-high 23 minutes vs. La Salle.