MBB Loses at No. 15 Virginia Tech, 84-70
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team lost at No. 15 Virginia Tech, 84-70, Friday evening in the teams’ regular-season finale in front of a sellout crowd at Cassell Coliseum. Chris Lykes led Miami with 16 points and a career-high nine assists. Anthony Lawrence recorded his fourth double-double in the last five games with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Miami (13-17, 5-13 ACC) shot 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the field, including just 6-of-29 from 3-point range. Virginia Tech was hot from behind the arc, nailing 14 of 26 3-point attempts (53.8 percent). The Hokies (23-7, 12-6) shot 49.2 percent (29-of-59) from the field.
Ebuka Izundu (16) and Zach Johnson (14) also scored in double figures for Miami. Izundu went 8-for-8 from the field. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Virginia Tech with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Ty Outlaw added 19.
Miami hit seven of its first eight shots in bolting to an early 16-8 advantage. From there, the Hokies tightened the clamps on defense, holding the Hurricanes to two field goals over the next 13 minutes while out-scoring UM 35-8 for a 43-24 lead. The Canes hit their final three field-goal attempts to go into the break down 14, 45-31. The Hokies hit 9-of-15 3-pointers in the half and parlayed seven UM first-half turnovers into 16 points.
The Canes pulled within 11 points, 47-36, on a Johnson 3-pointer with 17:49 remaining but could get no closer.
Miami opens ACC Tournament play Tuesday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Pairings and game times will be announced Saturday evening.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Game Notes
• Anthony Lawrence II played in his 128th career game, seventh most in program history.
• Lawrence scored 15 points. The 39th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, he now has 1,019 career points.
• Lawrence recorded his eighth career double-double, including his sixth this season and fourth in the last five games.
• Chris Lykes scored 16 points, reaching double figures for the 25th time in 30 games this season.
• Lykes has scored 16 or more points in 19 games this season.
• Lykes recorded a career-high nine assists and matched his career high in steals (3).
• Playing in his 133rd career game, Zach Johnson scored 14 points and now has 1,706 career points (1,344 at Florida Gulf Coast, 362 at Miami).
