Miami Plays Seton Hall for Wooden Legacy Title
November 25, 2018 | 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 PT
Titan Gym | Fullerton, Calif.
Miami (5-0) vs. Seton Hall (3-2)
Tournament Bracket | Roster | Coaches | Schedule
FULLERTON, Calif. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team plays for the 2018 Wooden Legacy championship on Sunday evening as it takes on Seton Hall at Titan Gym in Fullerton, Calif. Game time is 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 PT.
ESPN2 has the television broadcast, while the Canes’ radio broadcast airs on WQAM 560-AM and also streams online on HurricaneSports.com.
The Canes defeated La Salle (85-49) and Fresno State (78-76) to advance to the championship game. Zach Johnson’s putback dunk with 0.6 seconds remaining provided the go-ahead score in the Canes’ thrilling win over Fresno State.
Things to Know
• Miami reunites with former Big East Conference rival Seton Hall for their first game since Feb. 24, 2004.
• The Canes are 5-0 for the fourth time in eight years under Jim Larrañaga.
• Under Jim Larrañaga, Miami has won two ESPN tournaments: 2014 Charleston Classic and 2015 Puerto Rico Shootout.
• Miami is shooting 39 percent from 3-point range and has limited opponents to 29 percent from long range.
• Chris Lykes and DJ Vasiljevic each have scored in double figures in every game this season.
• Junior forward Dewan Hernandez has been withheld from competition thus far as the University and NCAA review his eligibility.
Tournament Trends
• Miami has forced 40 turnovers, resulting in 42 points.
• Four players are averaging in double figures: Zach Johnson (18.0), Chris Lykes (17.5), DJ Vasiljevic (13.0) and Ebuka Izundu (10.0).
• The Canes are shooting 77.6 percent from the free-throw line (38-49). UM shot 66 percent from the charity stripe last season.
• UM’s bench has accounted for 52 points (36 from Johnson).
Noting the Fresno State Win
• Zach Johnson scored a season-high 24 points. With 15 points in the first half, he matched his season high for a game.
• Johnson now has 1,409 career points (1,344 at Florida Gulf Coast, 65 at Miami).
• Johnson’s 24-point output is the most by a Miami player this season.
• It was Johnson’s 13th career 20-point game.
• Led by Johnson, Miami’s bench outscored Fresno State’s reserves, 26-2.
• DJ Vasiljevic hit four 3-pointers and has canned three or more 3-pointers in every game this season.
• Chris Lykes scored 17 points. The Canes are 7-1 in his two seasons when he scores 17 or more points.
• Miami started the second half on a 10-0 run while Fresno State missed its first nine field-goal attempts.
• Miami allowed its most points in a first half this season (41) and trailed at the half for the second time (Bethune-Cookman by one point).
Seton Hall owns wins over Grand Canyon (82-75) and Hawai’I (64-54) in the tournament. Myles Powell has paced the Pirates with 59 points in two games, including a 40-point outburst against Grand Canyon. He leads the team in scoring for the year at 25.8 ppg. SHU is scoring 71.2 ppg and allowing 64.8 ppg.
Seton Hall holds a 15-8 series edge, with all but three coming during the Canes’ Big East tenure. SHU won the teams’ last three meetings, capped by a 76-66 decision in Coral Gables on Feb. 24, 2004. Miami’s last win was a 72-66 triumph on Feb. 1, 2001, in Coral Gables. SHU won 10 of the first 11 meetings, but Miami took seven of the next 12. The Pirates have taken the two neutral-site matchups, with both coming in the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.
Miami returns home Wednesday to play Rutgers in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Game time is 7:15 p.m. at the Watsco Center.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
