Late turnovers doom ’Canes
Loss stops 21-game home winning streak
CORAL GABLES — There were moments they looked every bit the dangerous young team that could pose a threat to some of the ACC’s powerhouse programs. And then there were stretches the Hurricanes seemed more like a youthful squad just trying to find its way during a season of transition.
Sadly for the Miami men’s basketball team late Thursday, it was more the latter than the former.
With five seconds left in regulation and an opportunity to tie it, the Hurricanes turned the ball over and Notre Dame capitalized, converting on a pair of free throws to ultimately hang on for a 67-62 win.
The Irish’s victory snapped Miami’s 21-game home winning streak at the Watsco Center and again denied Hurricanes coach Jim Larrañaga the opportunity to record the 600th win in his career.
He’s been sitting on 599 career wins since Miami’s 81-63 win over North Carolina State on Dec. 31.
Though Miami — which saw three freshmen log significant minutes again — fought back from down double-digits early in the second half, there was no sense of a moral victory. Instead, one of the team’s veterans lamented what he felt was a missed opportunity, one he took personally.
“We just didn’t take care of the ball late in the game. I lost the ball. I didn’t hold on to the ball,” said senior Davon Reed, who tied a career-high with his gamehigh 21 points but was visibly upset post-game. “We didn’t execute when we needed to. We didn’t have poise down the stretch.”
Notre Dame, meanwhile, showed what a difference experience can make.
The Irish, who have now opened ACC play with four straight wins, including two on the road, capitalized on Miami’s mistakes in the final seconds, with V.J. Beachem ultimately collecting the steal that allowed Matt Farrell to hit a pair of free throws to secure the win.
Earlier, though, the Hurricanes — who trailed by as many as 11 points midway through the second half — showed why they earned high praise from Irish coach Mike Brey both ahead of and after the matchup.
After the Irish (15-2, 4-0) built a 50-29 lead with 9:58 left as Beachem converted on a 3-point play, the Hurri- canes began chipping away on the strength of solid 3-point shooting and effective defense.
Miami (11-4, 1-2) collected a season-high and ACC program record-high 12 blocks against Notre Dame and turned had seven points off Irish turnovers.
The capacity crowd at the Watsco Center came alive when, with 7:04 left, Anthony Lawrence hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 52. Farrell answered with a 3-pointer of his own on Notre Dame’s ensuing possession, but Miami regained the lead and built a 61-57 lead minutes later on a jumper by Reed with 2:53 left.
Then came the lategame miscues and missed free throws that ultimately proved the difference. The Hurricanes, who normally shoot 70 percent from the line, were just 8-of-14 from there Thursday, something Larrañaga noted made a difference.
“I’m always disappointed when we lose, but I’m not disappointed in how hard we played. I’m not disappointed with how we responded when we fell behind,” Larrañaga said.
Just before tip - off Thursday, Miami announced it had dismissed forward Michael Gilmore from the program for a “failure to meet team expectations.”
Gilmore, a junior, did not play a game at Miami after transferring from VCU after last season. He was sitting out the year to satisfy NCAA requirements.