No. 25/23 Miami Falls to No. 5 Duke 83-75
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman Lonnie Walker scored a team-high 19 points and was one of four Hurricanes that finished in double figures, but it was not enough, as the University of Miami men’s basketball team fell 83-75 to Duke University Monday night at the Watsco Center.
Miami’s loss to Duke marked the Hurricanes’ first loss of the season at home and marked just the third time this season UM has given up 80-or-more points.
Joining Walker (career-high five 3-pointers) in double figures were sophomore Dewan Huell (18 points), junior Anthony Lawrence II (13 points) and fellow rookie Chris Lykes (13 points), marking the eighth time this season that four or more Canes have scored double digits.
Huell also pulled down a team-best 13 rebounds to tally his third career double-double. Lawrence also chipped in on the defensive side of the ball, as he totaled a career-high five steals and posted a team best two blocks.
Duke freshman guard Gary Trent Jr. led the way for the Blue Devils, as he poured in a game-high 30 points on 9-of-14 shots from the field. Trent was one of four Blue Devils that finished in double figures.
Miami shot just 37.2 percent from the field, while Duke connected a 52.4 percent clip.
Both teams traded baskets in the opening eight minutes as neither team led by more than four points. Duke would go on to extend its lead to seven points at the 10-minute mark of the first half after the Blue Devils made a 9-0 scoring push.
The Hurricanes answered with a 10-1 scoring push to take a two-point 24-22 lead with 7:42 to go until the break.
Duke reclaimed the lead a minute later and would go on to push its lead back to seven points, but the Hurricanes responded once again thanks to a 12-4 scoring run to take 40-39 lead with 1:22 to go in the first half.
The Blue Devils took a 42-40 lead into the locker room thanks to Trent’s 3-pointer at the buzzer. Despite scoring 40-or-more points for the 10th time this season, the Hurricanes trailed for just the third time this season.
Miami came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders, as it opened up a 13-point lead with 11:25 to go in the game. The Hurricanes’ defense also tightened and limited the Blue Devils to just to just six point over the course of the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The Hurricanes kept their double-digit lead intact as they held a 10-point advantage (66-56) with 7:45 to go in the game, but Duke answered back in a big way, as it went on 18-0 run to seal the win.
Miami returns to action on Sunday (Jan. 21), as it heads to Raleigh, N.C. to take on the Wolfpack. Tipoff is set for Noon.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
