MBB Falls, 76-70, at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA – The University of Miami men’s basketball team turned a 12-point deficit into a late six-point lead Wednesday night at McCamish Pavilion, but could not hold on down the stretch in a 76-70 road setback against Georgia Tech.

For No. 12 Miami (13-2, 4-1 ACC), the defeat snapped the 12th nine-game winning streak in program history and the co-program-best seven-game ACC road winning streak. Fifth-year senior guard Jordan Miller and third-year sophomore forward Norchad Omier co-led the Hurricanes with 17 points apiece.

Georgia Tech (8-6, 1-3 ACC) used an early 14-2 run in just 3:34 to build a 10-point edge, 21-11, after only eight minutes of play. It upped the lead to 12, 37-25, with 4:34 on the first-half clock after starting 6-of-11 from 3-point range.

Miami closed the half on a 10-2 surge over the final four minutes and entered the locker room with a four-point deficit, 39-35.

Soon after the break, the Hurricanes used a 6-0 20-second burst to even the score at 41 with 18:12 to go. They then went in front, 47-46, with 14:04 on the clock—good for an extended 22-9 run in 10 minutes—after forcing the Yellow Jackets into seven straight misses from the floor.

Miami upped its cushion to a game-high six points, 65-59, with 6:44 remaining after an 11-4 spurt that included seven points from sophomore guard Wooga Poplar. It maintained a six-point lead with under five minutes left, but went scoreless for the final 4:49, as the Yellow Jackets scored the final 12 points to earn the victory.

The Hurricanes had 13 steals and committed just seven turnovers, but shot 35.3 percent (24-of-68) overall, including 15.6 percent (5-of-32) from 3-point range. They also posted a 68.0 percent (17-of-25) mark at the free-throw line, while Georgia Tech shot 89.5 percent (17-of-19) at the stripe and made its first 17 attempts until two misses in the closing seconds.

Omier added a co-game-high eight rebounds alongside his 17 points, but fouled out with 2:15 left, while Miller’s 17 points came on 7-of-12 shooting. Third-year sophomore guard Nijel Pack scored 13 points and Poplar finished with nine to go along with a career-best six steals, the most by a Hurricane this season and the co-fifth-most ever by a Miami player.

Georgia Tech senior guard Lance Terry scored a season-high 24 points to pace all scorers, connecting on each of his first four 3-pointers on the way to an 8-of-13 clip overall. Miles Kelly posted 20 points and went 7-of-7 at the line, while fellow sophomore guard Dallan “Deebo” Coleman notched 14 points and sophomore forward Jalon Moore added 10 points.

Following a weekend bye, Miami resumes play Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. against Boston College, live on ESPNU from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

MIAMI HURRICANES POSTGAME NOTES
– Miami’s 13 steals matched its second-most this season, while its seven turnovers equaled its second-lowest mark.
– The Hurricanes dropped to 7-7 in their last 14 games when trailing by double digits, dating back to 11/16/21 versus North Texas in Kissimmee, Fla.
– Miami is now 8-2 in its last 10 games when trailing at halftime, dating back to 2/9/22 against Georgia Tech in Coral Gables.
– Prior to both Poplar and fourth-year junior guard Isaiah Wong (four) recording four-plus steals in the result, Miami had just two four-steal performances all season.
– Poplar, who notched the 22nd outing of six-plus steals by a Miami player since the stat was first tracked in 1985-86, became the first Hurricane with at least six in a game since Miller logged seven on 2/5/22 at Virginia.
– In addition, Poplar’s six steals matched the third-highest total by a Hurricane in ACC play and marked just the sixth time a Miami player has hit that number in ACC action.
– The lone previous four-steal performance for Wong came on 11/23/22 versus St. Francis Brooklyn.