Balanced Scoring Leads Canes Past Va. Tech

INFOGRAPHIC

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Davon Reed led a quartet of double-digit scorers from the University of Miami, as the Hurricanes defeated Virginia Tech, 74-68, on Wednesday night.

The Hurricanes (16-7, 6-5 ACC) and Hokies (16-7, 5-6 ACC) played a tight first half, changing leads 11 times between the two sides in the opening 20 minutes, but an 18-2 Miami run midway through the second half put the game away for good for the Canes. With the victory, the Hurricanes snapped a tie with Virginia Tech in the ACC standings. 

“It’s always a grudge match when we play them, no matter where it’s at,” Reed said. “I didn’t even realize we were tied for eighth, but any win in the ACC, home or away, a chance to advance in the league is big time. It’s good to finally get two in a row after winning one and then losing one and winning one. We’re finally getting on a little winning streak today.”

Reed drained four shots from long distance on his way to 18 points against Virginia Tech. The senior guard has knocked down 48 shots from long range in the past 15 games and has hit a three in every game this season (23 games). Reed added a season-high six assists, just one short of his career best of seven vs. Loyola (12/30/13). 

Ja’Quan Newton (16), Anthony Lawrence, Jr. (12), and Kamari Murphy (10) joined Reed in double figures against Virginia Tech, combining to score 56 of Miami’s 74 points against the Hokies. 

Virginia Tech and Miami challenged each other for much of the first half, playing to a stalemate at 34 with 1:08 remaining and the opening 20 minutes. But a defensive adjustment, combined with some hot shooting helped the Hurricanes go on a 9-0 run to go into the break up six points, 40-34.

“We knew they were a team that could shoot threes, but also liked to attack the basket,” Reed said. “They’re leading the ACC in getting to the foul line or something like that, so that was a key for us. Early in the game we had some fouls and we decided to switch and go to the three defense and we were able to contain their penetration for the most part and limit our fouls and I think that’s what really changed the game for us.”

Miami carried that momentum into the second half, taking a nine-point lead, 47-38, with 17:17 on the clock in the second half, but the Hokies rattled off a 9-0 run to even the game at 47. 

The Hurricanes answered with an 18-2 run over the next 5:33 to take a 65-49 lead with 7:13 remaining in the game. 

“They are a very good offensive team,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “Very hard to guard and I thought our players hung tough when they made their run; tied the game up. We went back at them and were able to finish pretty good, so it was a good win. 

Miami extended its lead to 17 points with 4:29 on the clock, a lead that the Hokies could not overcome despite a 18-9 run to close the game.

“We had too many mistakes, particularly in the second half,” Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams said. “Nine turnovers is way too many against a team as good as they are. A turnover against Miami is almost assured of a basket. A blocked shot by Miami is almost assured of a basket. From what we have studied, a questionable shot – whatever you deem that to be – is almost an assured basket in transition. I don’t know how many points off their 18 would have been off of the turnover, a blocked shot or a questionable shot, but I would say that there were several.”

Freshman forward Dewan Huell grabbed five rebounds, his highest since Jan. 18 when he had eight at Wake Forest. Murphy and freshman Bruce Brown also each pulled down five boards against Virginia Tech. 

After a 16-point outing in his last game, sophomore Ebuka Izundu recorded 8 points against Virginia Tech, his second-most points in an ACC game this season. He teamed with Lawrence and freshman DJ Vasiljevic to contribute 25 bench points for Miami.

“We wanted to get Ebuka the ball, he did a great job in the first half of finishing,” Larrañaga said. “And in the second half he helped with a couple blocked shots and rebounds. I loved the way Anthony Lawrence Jr., and Ebuka are playing, and they play a lot together. Ebuka played 19 minutes tonight and Anthony Lawrence Jr., played 29. You had DJ who made two big buckets, a three and a two, one as the shot clock ended. Very pleased with the production off our bench.”

With the win, Miami is now 20-13 all-time against Virginia Tech and 10-4 at home against the Hokies. In six seasons under Coach Larrañaga, Miami is 10-3 against VT. 

“Every game is tough,” Larrañaga said. “We are one of only two teams in the league that went on the road in four of the first six conference games and three of the last four. You like to start strong and end strong, and we have been put in a position where we really have to battle now. Because the teams we are playing; Louisville is a top 10 team, Virginia is a top 10 team, Clemson and Georgia Tech have proven how good they can play. We have got to repeat games with Virginia Tech and Florida State. So, every game is huge. And Duke at home.”

The Canes are back in action at No. 4 Louisville on Saturday. Miami will face the Cardinals at 2 p.m., in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Game Notes

Miami’s starters against Virginia Tech were Ja’Quan Newton, Bruce Brown, Davon Reed, Kamari Murphy and Dewan Huell. Miami is now 10-4 with this starting five. 

Against Virginia Tech, Miami boasted four players scoring in double digits: Davon Reed (18), Ja’Quan Newton (16), Anthony Lawrence (12) and Kamari Murphy (10).

Senior guard Davon Reed drained four shots from long distance on his way to 18 points against Virginia Tech. Reed has knocked down 48 shots from long range in the past 15 games and has hit a three in every game this season (23 games).

Reed added a season high six assists, just one short of his career best of seven vs. Loyola (12/30/13). 

After a 16-point outing in his last game, sophomore Ebuka Izundu recorded 8 points against Virginia Tech, his second-most points in an ACC game this season. 

With 10 points, Kamari Murphy scored in double digits for the first time since his 11 points against NC State on Dec. 31, 2016. 

Freshman Dewan Huell grabbed five rebounds, his highest since Jan. 18 when he had eight at Wake Forest. 

With the win Miami is now 20-13 all-time against Virginia Tech and 10-4 at home against the Hokies.        In six seasons under Coach Larrañaga, Miami is 10-3 against VT. 

Miami has won 24 of its last 26 games at the Watsco Center, with a 11-2 mark this season, added to 13 straight victories in the 2015-16 campaign. In six seasons under Coach L, Miami is 74-22 overall at home and 35-15 in ACC action at home.

UM has now made at least seven shots from long range in 118 of Larrañaga’s 198 games at UM. The Canes are 92-26 when making at least seven from 3-point range. This season, Miami is 10-3 when hitting seven from deep.

Postgame Quotes

Miami Head Coach, Coach Jim Larrañaga

Opening Statement:

“I thought it was a terrific game. I was very concerned when we fouled them on their first and second possessions to start the game. Not what we wanted, it was the emphasis of not fouling. We switched to the zone to give us a chance to put help defense in the paint and not get stretched out to much. That kept us out of some foul problems. I thought the second half we did a good job of sharing the ball. We only had 10 turnovers with 15 assists. That is very good for us. They are a very good offensive team, very hard to guard and I thought our players hung tough when they made their run; tied the game up. We went back at them and were able to finish pretty good. So it was a good win.”

On the importance of the win…

“Every game is tough. We are one of only two teams in the league  that went on the road in four of the first six conference games and three of the last four. You like to start strong and end strong, and we have been put in a position where we really have to battle now. Because the teams we are playing; Louisville is a top 10 team, Virginia is a top 10 team, Clemson and Georgia Tech have proven how good they can play. We have got to repeat games with Virginia Tech and Florida State. So, every game is huge. And Duke at home.” 

On the challenge the Hokies present…

“Well they are difficult in every way. They start out with four, 3-point shooters on the perimeter. That stretches your defense. They bring LeDay, and a lot of times Clarke and Hill off the bench, sometimes Seth Allen. They have three left handed guards that normally start, Robinson, Allen and Bibbs. So everything about them requires your players to be very focused, because they do a lot of really hard things to defend and they play defense a little differently then anybody else in the league. In fronting the post, it was hard to post feed. We wanted to get Ebuka the ball, he did a great job in the first half of finishing. And in the second half he helped with a couple blocked shots and rebounds. I loved the way Anthony Lawrence Jr. and Ebuka are playing, and they play a lot together. Ebuka played 19 minutes tonight and Anthony Lawrence Jr. played 29. You had DJ who made two big buckets, a three and a two, one as the shot clock ended. Very pleased with the production off our bench.”

Virginia Tech Head Coach, Buzz Williams

Opening statement…

“We had too many mistakes, particularly in the second half. Nine turnovers is way too many against a team as good as they are. A turnover against Miami is almost assured of a basket. A blocked shot by Miami is almost assured of a basket. From what we have studied, a questionable shot – whatever you deem that to be – is almost an assured basket in transition. I don’t know how many points off their 18 would have been off of the turnover, a blocked shot or a questionable shot, but I would say that there were several.”

On how big this game was…

“I think they are all ginormous – home or on the road. Everybody in the county is working to add to their resume. Everybody.”

On the ACC…

“I think it will go down in the annals of college basketball history as the best league in a single season.”

On tonight’s game…

“I thought we played much harder than we have over the last two weeks. I thought we were much more connected. I thought our togetherness, our body language and how hard we competed was back to the way it has to be for us to have a chance to compete. I just thought we made too many mistakes and you can’t play a mistake filled game on the road against anybody in this league.”