Canes Fall to Syracuse, 73-53
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team fell 73-53 against Syracuse Thursday night at the Carrier Dome. The Hurricanes (9-9, 1-5 ACC) were held to their second-lowest field goal percentage of the season, 33.9 percent, and shot just 8-for-29 from 3-point range in the loss.
Junior guard Dejan Vasiljevic was the lone Hurricane to reach double figures, notching 11 points. Pulling down a career-high eight rebounds and sinking a trio of 3-pointers, Vasiljevic has now hit at least one three in 31 consecutive games. Meanwhile, senior center Ebuka Izundu pulled down 10 boards, while UM’s leading scorer for the season, Chris Lykes was held to single-digit points (eight) for only the second time this season.
Miami shot just 20-of-59 from the field. The Hurricanes out-rebounded Syracuse, 39-27, and pulled down 15 offensive rebounds, ending the night with a 19-6 advantage in second-chance points.
Elijah Hughes led all scorers with 22 points, converting on 6-of-9 shots from long range. He was joined by teammates Buddy Boeheim (12 points) and Tyus Battle (10 points) in double figures. Syracuse hit 14-for-30 from 3-point range and shot 50 percent (26-52) from the field.
Syracuse (14-5, 5-1 ACC) opened the game shooting lights out from long distance, closing out the opening frame shooting 8-of-16. However, Miami took advantage of second chance opportunities in the opening half, outscoring Syracuse 9-3 in the category and outrebounding Cuse 24-12 in the opening frame. The Hurricanes entered the locker room trailing 32-29, shooting 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) from the field.
After exchanging baskets in the opening 7:17 of the second half, Syracuse took advantage of a 16-3 run over the next 3:37 of play, to take a 61-44 lead.
The Hurricanes will look to turn things around on Sunday, when they welcome Florida State to the Watsco Center at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Game Notes
• Under Jim Larrañaga, Miami is 48-40 in true road games, including 31-34 in ACC play.
• Miami scored a season low in points (previous was 54 against Rutgers).
• Miami shot 33.9 percent, its second lowest in a game this season.
• This marked just the second game this year in which Miami did not hold a lead at some point in the second half. The other was at Penn on Dec. 4. UM was within one point at three different times in the second half.
• Syracuse’s 14 3-pointers marked a Miami opponent season high. The previous high was 13, set at Louisville and Penn.
• The Orange blocked 11 shots, most by a UM opponent this season. Rutgers had eight blocks against the Canes on Nov. 30.
• DJ Vasiljevic hit three 3-pointers and has connected on at least one shot from long range in 31 straight games, the longest current streak among ACC players.
• It is the fourth-longest streak in program history and tied for 24th longest in ACC history.
• Vasiljevic has hit 169 career 3-pointers, one shy of the top 10 in program history.
• Vasiljevic grabbed eight rebounds, setting a career high.
• Zach Johnson scored nine points and has scored 1,584 career points (1,344 at Florida Gulf Coast, 240 at Miami).
• Chris Lykes scored eight points, just the second time in 18 games that he did not score in double figures.
• Ebuka Izundu recorded 10 rebounds, reaching double figures for the eighth time this season.
