UM men fall short at N. Carolina as losing streak grows to seven
The University of Miami men’s basketball team lost its seventh game in a row Monday night, 75-71, at ninth-ranked North Carolina. The Hurricanes now have a week to get healthy and prepare for the home finale next Wednesday against Boston College.
Miami was missing injured starters Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar against the Tar Heels. North Carolina guard RJ Davis set a Dean E. Smith Center record with 42 points. And yet, UM rallied to within two points in the closing seconds.
It wasn’t enough.
“That was a valiant effort on our part, but RJ Davis had the answer every time we made a run,” coach Jim Larrañaga said. “He is a fantastic player.
“Our guys fought very hard. We fell behind late in the game and still made a tremendous effort to come back and a very exciting ending.”
Down 73-71 with five seconds left, sophomore guard Bensley Joseph intentionally missed his second free throw, the coach’s plan being that the Hurricanes would get the offensive rebound and score to tie the game. Instead,
UNC got the ball.
Joseph had a career-high 21 points, with six rebounds and five assists. Norchad Omier had 22 points, but spent much of the game in foul trouble. Kyshawn George added 14 points and Matt Cleveland had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
UM, coming off a Final
Four season, fell to 15-14 and 6-12 in the ACC. North Carolina is 22-6, 14-3.
After the home game against BC, Miami will finish the regular season March 9 at Florida State.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Mexico surprises
U.S. women: Goals by Lizbeth Ovalle and Mayra Pelayo lifted Mexico to a stunning 2-0 win over the U.S. women’s national team Monday in Carson, Calif., in the final groupplay game of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup.
The win was just the second for Mexico against the U.S. in 43 games, the first coming nearly 14 years ago in Cancun.
The U.S. hadn’t given up two goals in a game in 22 matches and in more than 15 months.
Mexico (2-0-1) heads into this weekend’s tournament quarterfinals in Los Angeles as the group champion. The U.S. (2-1-0) advances as the secondplace team.
NFL
Broncos: Coach Sean Payton said the team will make a decison on quarterback Russell Wilson in the next two weeks.
If Wilson isn’t traded or released by March 17, then $37 million in salary guarantees for the 2025 season will be locked in. His salary for 2024 (cap hit of $35.4 million) already is guaranteed.
Wilson was benched late in the season but said Sunday on the “I Am Athlete” podcast with former Denver receiver Brandon Marshall that he would like to stay with the Broncos.
Buccaneers: Tampa Bay will release linebacker
Shaquil Barrett ,31,ina salary-slashing move,
ESPN reported. Cutting ties with the two-time Pro Bowl selection will provide nearly $5 million in salary cap relief. He has an option bonus of $15 million due next month.
Jets: New York released left guard Laken Tomlinson, ESPN reported. Tomlinson, 32, was due to count $18.9 million on the 2024 salary cap. His release will leave the Jets with $10.7 million in dead money this year.