MBB Rolls to 110-73 Win over Parisian Select

VIRY-CHÂTILLON, France – The University of Miami men’s basketball team registered its second wire-to-wire victory over Parisian Select in as many nights with a 110-73 decision Saturday at Espace Edmond Delfour.

Eleven Hurricanes connected on multiple field goals, with five scoring double-digit points their second outing of the foreign tour. Junior guard Wooga Poplar again paced Miami with 18 points, this time on a stellar 7-of-9 clip from the floor.

“This was a tremendous performance by our team,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “Our guys played with intensity from start to finish, which is what we always want to see regardless of the opponent. Like yesterday, our big men controlled the paint while our guards knocked down shots.”

Miami opened the contest on a 12-0 run and did not concede a point in the first three-and-a-half minutes. Junior guard Matthew Cleveland scored nine points on 4-of-6 shooting in the frame, helping the team take a 28-11 lead after one quarter.

The Hurricanes went 7-of-8 from the stripe and notched six steals in the second quarter to extend their cushion to 52-27 at the break. Cleveland and sophomore forward AJ Casey each totaled six points in the frame.

Coming out of the break, Miami logged its most dominant session of the evening, shooting 15-of-17 (88.2 percent) in the third period. Eight players made a shot, including seven doing so without a miss, led by Poplar’s 11 points on a 5-of-5 ledger. The dazzling offensive performance helped the team up its edge to 87-50 through 30 minutes.

Although no starters appeared in the fourth stanza, Miami still held its 37-point advantage when the final horn sounded. Freshman guard Paul Djobet, who hails from Lille, France, scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting, while redshirt sophomore guard Jakai Robinson had five points, connecting on a 3-pointer and both of his free throws.

The Hurricanes shot 56.9 percent (41-of-72) overall, including 66.7 percent (22-of-33) in the second half. They also amassed 14 steals in the dominant win, with eight players recording at least one.

Cleveland ended up as Miami’s second-leading scorer, compiling 17 points to go along with five rebounds—four came at the offensive end—and two assists. Fourth-year junior forward Norchad Omier tallied 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, six rebounds, three assists and a team-best three steals.

Casey finished with 13 points on a 4-of-5 mark from the floor, adding a team-high seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior guard Bensley Joseph scored 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting and made both of his 3-point attempts.

Back to back W’s in Paris 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cMCqRmJDCv

— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) August 5, 2023

Miami will play the final game of its foreign tour Thursday at 1 p.m. ET in Vallauris, France, against AC Golfe Juan-Vallauris.

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

PLAYER STAT HIGHLIGHTS
– AJ Casey: 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, 4/5 field goals, 5/6 free throws
– Matthew Cleveland: 17 points, five rebounds, two assists
– Paul Djobet: nine points, two rebounds, 4/5 field goals
– Kyshawn George: five points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals
– Bensley Joseph: 11 points, 4/6 field goals, 2/2 3-pointers
– Michael Nwoko: three points, two rebounds
– Norchad Omier: 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, 6/9 field goals
– Nijel Pack: five points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, one turnover
– Wooga Poplar: 18 points, six rebounds, 7/9 field goals
– Jakai Robinson: seven points, 2/2 field goals
– Christian Watson: eight points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals