Threes Reign Supreme In 82-61 Win
| TEAM COMPARISON | ||
|---|---|---|
| UM |
VT | |
| Points | 82 | 61 |
| FGM-A | 26-56 | 22-48 |
| FG% | 46 | 46 |
| 3 FGM-A | 15-25 | 6-15 |
| 3 FG% | 60 | 40 |
| FTM-A | 15-17 | 11-17 |
| FT% | 88 | 65 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 27 |
| Assists | 15 | 10 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 12 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| TEAM LEADERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| UM |
VT | |
| Points | Lecomte – 20 | Hill – 17 |
| Rebounds | 2 tied – 5 | Pierce – 7 |
| Assists | McClellan – 5 | Hudson – 4 |
| Blocks | Reed – 2 | Pierce – 2 |
| PLAYER OF THE GAME |
|---|
 James Palmer | Fr. | GPalmer was red-hot from beyond the arc Saturday, making all five of his three point attempts en route to a career-high 17 points. |
| VIDEO | ||
|---|---|---|
| Highlights | Condensed Replay | Game Replay |
| SOCIAL | ||
|---|---|---|
| @CanesHoops | ||
| /CanesHoops | ||
| @CanesHoops | ||
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) – Manu Lecomte scored 20 points to lift Miami to an 82-61 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Ivan Cruz Uceda came off the bench to add 18 points, as Miami (20-11, 10-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) hit 15 3-pointers in reaching the 20-win mark for the third time in four seasons. The Hurricanes closed the regular season by winning three of their final four and six of their final nine games.
Miami dominated the last 15 minutes of the first half, using runs of 10-0 and 13-0 to lead by as many as 29 points. The Hurricanes buried 10 3-pointers in the first half alone, including four by Lecomte, who scored 14 in the first half. Cruz Uceda added 12 in the first half, including two 3-pointers, as Miami shot 56.7 percent (17 of 30), including 10 of 16 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Virginia Tech shot just 35 percent (7 of 20) and turned the ball over six times in the first half.
The Hokies opened the second half with a 10-2 run, cutting a 46-18 halftime deficit to 48-28 on Satchel Pierce’s basket with 15:59 remaining. But the ‘Canes went on a 10-0 run, with different players scoring, to push the lead to 58-28 and weren’t threatened again.
Lecomte, who hit a career-high five 3-pointers, made 6 of 8 from the floor for Miami. James Palmer added a career-high 17 points and hit five 3-pointers.
Ahmed Hill led Virginia Tech (10-21, 2-16) with 15 points. The Hokies lost their final seven regular-season games.
Noteworthy
* With the win over Virginia Tech, Miami collected its 20th win on the year.
* In its two meetings with Virginia Tech this season, Miami has outscored the Hokies 158-113.
* The Hurricanes will enter the 2015 ACC Tournament as the No. 6 seed after they were picked 10th in the Preseason Poll.
* Miami has now won 20-or-more games for the third time in the last four years.
* Since joining the ACC in 2004-05, Miami has posted three 20-win seasons since the arrival of Larrañaga.
* Since 2011-12, head coach Jim Larrañaga has tallied seasons of 20-13, 29-7, 17-16 and now 20-11.
* Miami finished the game by going 15-of-25 (60.0) from beyond arc. The 15 3-pointers by the Hurricanes tied the single game school record.
* The Hurricanes 60.0 percent shooting clip from beyond the arc is their best shooting performance from 3-point range in conference play this season.
* Six of Miami’s first nine buckets came from 3-point range.
* Manu Lecomte, Ivan Cruz Uceda and James Palmer shot a combined 13-of-15 from beyond the arc.
* Miami opened the game with Tonye Jekiri, James Palmer, Sheldon McClellan, Davon Reed and Manu Lecomte.
* This is the first time this Miami has started a game with these five players.
* This is just the third game this season in which Angel Rodriguez did not start.
* The Hurricanes committed just seven turnovers on the night. Miami improved to 17-11 when committing 15-or-less turnovers.
* Miami held a 31-27 rebounding advantage. The Hurricanes improved to 12-1 this season when outrebounding their opponent.
* The Hurricanes had three players score in double figures for the 13th time this season. Miami improved to 9-4 this season when three players score in double figures.
* Miami led at the half 46-18. The Hurricanes improved to 12-3when leading at the half this season.
* Miami tallied 15-or-more assists for the 10th time this season. The Hurricanes are now 9-1 when dishing out 15-or-more assists.
* The 18 points scored by Virginia Tech in the first half were the fewest points the Hurricanes have allowed to an ACC opponent in the opening 20 minutes this season.
Series Notes
* Miami improved to 16-12all-time against Virginia Tech with the win.
* The Hurricanes moved to 6-6 all-time against Virginia Tech in games held in Blacksburg, Va.
* Miami has now won each of the last three meetings against Virginia Tech.
* Head coach Jim Larrañaga improved to 6-2 all-time against Virginia Tech.
Individual Notes
* Sophomore guard Manu Lecomte scored a game-high 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
* Lecomte reached double figures in scoring for the 12th time this season. He also scored 20-or-more points for the second time this season. He scored 23 points at Duke on Jan. 13.
* Junior forward Ivan Cruz Uceda came off the bench to score 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
* Cruz Uceda’s 18 points smashed his previous career-high of 11 points, which he set earlier this season at home against North Carolina.
* Cruz Uceda’s seven field goals set a career high. His previous high was three field goals made.
* Freshman guard James Palmer scored 17 points thanks in large part to shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from 3-point range.
* Palmer posted career highs in points (17) and 3-point field goals (5). He also tied his career-high in field goals made (5) and three-point field goal attempts (5).
* Palmer’s five field goals were a career-high in ACC play.
* Redshirt junior Sheldon McClellan tied a career-high with five assists.
* Sophomore guard Davon Reed posted a career high with two blocks.
Head Coach Jim Larrañaga
* Head coach Jim Larrañaga improved to 556-381 overall in his 31st season as a head coach.
* He is 86-47 in his fourth season at the University of Miami, with a 41-29 mark in ACC play.
