Omier, Omoruyi play to standoff, but UM guards power comeback win
Norchad Omier has played only eight games for the University of Miami men’s basketball team, but the high-energy Nicaraguan power forward has already become a fan favorite.
He has the Watsco Center student section and announcer chanting “Baby Food!” each time he scores, a tribute to the phrase he playfully yells to teammates when he sees a mismatch under the basket and wants the ball. It is his way of saying, “Feed me.”
Omier had little opportunity to demand baby food during Wednesday night’s thrilling 68-61 win over Rutgers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge because he was up against Scarlet Knights 6-11 center Cliff Omoruyi, who weighs 240 pounds and has a seven foot-plus wingspan.
Before the game, UM coach Jim Larrañaga said Omoruyi’s dunking ability and dominance around the rim conjured memories of Wilt Chamberlain. Omoruyi showed, especially in the opening minutes of the second half, that he was every bit as good as advertised.
The matchup between the centers was highly anticipated by fans of both teams.
Omier made his mark first with a layup for Miami’s first points of the game. He followed up that play with a defensive rebound on Rutgers’ first shot attempt. Omier had 10 points by halftime and held his own the rest of the night. He finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.
But it was the Hurricanes guards Isaiah Wong, Jordan Miller, Nijel Pack and Bensley Joseph who came to the rescue when Miami fell behind by 10 in the second half and it looked like the game was getting away from them.
Wong went on a solo 7-0 run to close the gap to three with 11:40 to go. He tipped in a Jordan Miller missed layup, stole a pass at the other end of the floor and raced back to hit a three and then grabbed another steal and converted a pullup jumper.
Joseph, known for his relentless defense, stole the ball twice, which led to two UM baskets. Pack hit a three to tie the game at 56-56 with just over six minutes remaining and the crowd went wild.
Miller followed that up with another three to put the Canes up 59-56. But the Scarlet Knights made big plays, too. Caleb McConnell’s three off a UM turnover tied it up 61-61 with under three minutes to go.
Omier broke the tie to give UM the lead with 1:22 to go, Miller grabbed a defensive rebound and Pack hit a three to widen the lead to 66-61. Miami closed the game on a 7-0 run.
Miller had 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Wong scored 16 points and had four assists.
After a slow first half — four points, one rebound — Omoruyi took over early in the second half.
He scored 10 of Rutgers’ first 12 points after intermission to spark a 12-2 run that opened a 10-point lead for the
Scarlet Knights.
The second half began with a three-point play by Omoruyi that put Rutgers up by four and drew a loud roar from the sizable contingent of Rutgers fans in the crowd, all wearing scarlet red shirts. Early in the game they began chanting “R-U! R-U!” and for a few minutes anyway it sounded as if the game were being played at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway,
New Jersey.
Rutgers fans got loud again when Omoruyi
slammed down emphatic back-to-back dunks and then nailed a three pointer.
Omoruyi was averaging 16.8 points and 10 rebounds heading into Wednesday’s game. He had 16 points and nine rebounds against UM. McConnell also scored
16.
Miami improved to 7-1 with the win. Rutgers dropped to 5-2.
The game was preceded by an on-court ceremony celebrating Larrañaga’s 700 wins. He
reached the milestone with a 74-64 road win against his alma mater, Providence, on Nov. 19. Larranaga was presented with a framed UM jersey with No. 700 on the back.
Miami heads to Louisville this weekend for its ACC opener Sunday at 1 p.m. and returns home Dec. 7 vs. Cornell.