Miami Battles Rutgers in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

November 28, 2018 | 7:15 p.m.
Watsco Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
 
Miami (5-1) vs. Rutgers (4-1)
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team returns home Wednesday evening to take on Rutgers in the 20^th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Game time is 7:15 p.m. at the Watsco Center. ESPNU has the television broadcast, while the Canes’ radio broadcast airs on WQAM 560-AM and also streams online on HurricaneSports.com.
 
Tickets remain available and can be purchased online HERE or at the Watsco Center ticket office.
 
Things To Know
• Miami is starting a busy stretch of three games in seven days heading into its break for final exams.
• Miami owns 19 straight home non-conference wins.
• UM has won its last four games in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
• Zach Johnson averaged 18.0 ppg at the Wooden Legacy and was named to the all-tournament team.
• Five Miami players are averaging in double figures in scoring this season.
• Chris Lykes has scored 17 or more points in every game this season and is fifth in the ACC in scoring.
• Miami has scored at least 78 points in all six games.
• Junior forward Dewan Hernandez has been withheld from competition thus far as the University and NCAA review his eligibility.
 
Miami comes back to the East Coast after finishing as the runner-up at the Wooden Legacy in Fullerton, Calif. The Canes topped La Salle (85-49) and Fresno State (78-76) before dropping an 83-81 decision to Seton Hall in a back-and-forth affair on Sunday evening. The Canes had a last-gasp chance to win the game, but Anthony Lawrence II’s 3-pointer rimmed out in the final seconds. Miami shot 54.5 in the game but committed 16 turnovers which led to 19 Seton Hall points.
 
Chris Lykes leads five Miami players who are averaging in double-figure scoring this season. The sophomore guard is averaging 19.3 ppg, which currently ranks sixth in the ACC. DJ Vasiljevic (14.7), Zach Johnson (13.8), Lawrence (13.3) and Ebuka Izundu (11.3) also are averaging in double figures, while Miami is scoring 83.5 ppg this year. The Hurricanes are giving up 66.3 ppg through six games.
 
Miami is 6-5 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, including 5-2 under Jim Larrañaga. UM has a 4-1 home record and 2-4 road mark in the challenge. The ACC owns a 12-5-2 edge in the previous 19 events and a 120-91 record overall. Ten of the 19 challenges have been decided by a single game.
 
Rutgers holds a 4-1 record as it hits the road for the first time this season. Eugene Omoruyi is averaging nearly a double-double this season at 15.8 ppg and 9.8 rpg. Geo Baker is averaging 15.2 ppg, while Issa Thiam is scoring at a 10.2 ppg clip through five games. Rutgers is averaging 73.4 ppg as a team and allowing just 57.0 ppg. The Scarlet Knights are limiting their opponents to 37.6 field-goal shooting.
 
Miami leads the series with Rutgers, 10-5, with 11 of the 15 previous meetings coming during the programs’ stints in the Big East Conference. UM prevailed in the last two matchups, including a 73-61 win on Nov. 30, 2016, in an ACC-Big Ten Challenge game at the Watsco Center. Rutgers’ last win in the series was a 61-45 victory in Piscataway on Nov. 21, 2010. The teams’ last game as Big East rivals was on Feb. 4, 2004, a 72-70 Rutgers win in overtime at the RAC.
 
Miami is back in action Saturday night against Yale in the Miami Hoophall Invitational at AmericanAirlines Arena in downtown Miami. Game time is 7:30 p.m., and the contest streams online on ESPN3.
 
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.