MBB Hosts Virginia Tech in Regular-Season Finale
Miami (21-8, 10-7 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (21-9, 10-7 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule | Game Notes
March 3, 2018 | Noon
Watsco Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami men’s basketball team wraps up its regular season at noon Saturday when it entertains Virginia Tech at the Watsco Center. The Hurricanes (21-8, 10-7 ACC) and Hokies (21-9, 10-7) are tied with NC State for fifth place in ACC play heading into the final day of the regular season. ESPN2 has the television broadcast Saturday, while the game also streams online through the WatchESPN app. WQAM 590-AM has the local radio broadcast, with WMYM 990-AM broadcasting the game in Spanish.
Tickets remain available. Fans are encouraged to use StubHub, the official secondary ticket market for Miami Athletics, to purchase single-game tickets, as season tickets are sold out.
Prior to the game, Miami will conduct Senior Day ceremonies, honoring its three senior student-athletes, Ja’Quan Newton, Mike Robinson and Chris Stowell, as well as its three senior student managers, Tyler Storch, Amanda Hequin and Cooper Tinsley.
With its win at No. 9 North Carolina Tuesday, Miami recorded its 10th ACC win of the season and now has scored 10 or more league victories in five of Larrañaga’s seven years at UM. Prior to Larrañaga’s arrival, Miami never had won 10 ACC games in a season.
Miami has won three straight games, including a dramatic 91-88 victory Tuesday against the Tar Heels, as Newton hit a 40-foot runner at the buzzer for the win, just four seconds after UNC’s Joel Berry hit the game-tying 3-pointer. Newton scored Miami’s final seven points and finished with 15 points. Chris Lykes scored a team-high 18 points for the Hurricanes.
Since Bruce Brown Jr. went down with an injury nine games ago, Lykes has been Miami’s leading scorer at 13.7 points per game. Lonnie Walker IV is averaging 13.2 points per game over the last nine contests.
Overall this season Miami is averaging 74.7 points per game and allowing 67.6 per game. Dewan Huell leads the Hurricanes in scoring at 11.7 points per game, while Walker is scoring 11.6 per game. Walker leads the Canes in scoring in ACC play with 13.7 points per game, while Lykes is averaging 11.8 points per game in conference action.
Virginia Tech scored a last-second win of its own on Monday, rallying to top No. 5 Duke, 64-63, on a putback by Chris Clarke with four seconds remaining. The Hokies also have wins over Virginia, UNC and Clemson this season. Virginia Tech averages 80.6 points per game and allows 71.9 per contest. Five Hokies average in double-figure scoring, led by Justin Robinson at 13.7 points per game. Justin Bibbs is averaging 13.2 points per contest.
Miami leads the series with Virginia Tech, 21-14, including an 84-75 win on Feb. 3 in Blacksburg, Va., when Anthony Lawrence II went off for a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. DJ Vasiljevic and Walker added 14 points apiece. Jim Larrañaga is 11-4 against Virginia Tech in his career, including 5-1 in Coral Gables.
Miami begins postseason play next week at the 2018 ACC Tournament, which runs Tuesday through Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Hurricanes have clinched a first-round bye on Tuesday. Miami and Virginia Tech both are still in the running for double byes. With a win Saturday, the Canes potentially could earn a double bye and as high as the No. 3 seed or as low as the 5-seed. With a loss Saturday, UM would finish with the No. 6 or 7 seed.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
