South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)

Eagles able to down short-handed ’Canes

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CORAL GABLES — Caleb Catto scored 18 points, Dakota Rivers had 15 and each hit a key basket as Florida Gulf Coast upset injury-plagued Miami 66-62 on Saturday.

Catto and Rivers combined on nine 3-pointers as FGCU (3-1) poured in 13. Rivers finished with a career-high five 3s and the Eagles beat Miami for the first time since the 201213 season when both were Sweet 16 teams.

Miami (3-1) lost guard Kameron McGusty and center Rodney Miller Jr. to leg injuries early in the game, leaving the Hurricanes with six healthy scholarshi­p players.

Neither returned to the court, though McGusty threw in an inbounds pass with two seconds remaining. Miami begins Atlantic Coast Conference play against visiting Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Chris Lykes (ankle), Earl Timberlake (ankle) and Sam Waardenbur­g (season-ending foot injury) were already out.

Eli Abaev added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles (3-1). Luis Rolon, playing in place of point guard Jalen Warren — who was suspended one game for a violation of team rules — scored five points, dished out eight assists and was 5-for-7 at the line, four in the last 1 minute, 30 seconds.

Even short-handed, Miami maintained control through the first half until Catto hit a 3 to tie it at 28-28 at the break.

Catto opened the second half with a jumper and another 3, and the Eagles led 35-32.

Miami would tie six times, but FGCU never fell behind. Rivers’ final 3 was a dagger at 42 seconds that gave FGCU its biggest lead, 62-56.

Isaiah Wong led Miami with 20 points, a block and three steals. The Hurricanes were 1-for-17 from long distance before Wong hit back-to-back 3s in the last half-minute, trying to overcome FGCU’s two-possession lead.

Nysier Brooks added 13 points and 15 rebounds. Anthony Walker scored 12 and had three blocks.

 ??  ?? Jim Larranaga’s Hurricanes lost to FGCU for the first time since the 2012-13 season when both were Sweet 16 teams.
LYNNE SLADKY | AP
Jim Larranaga’s Hurricanes lost to FGCU for the first time since the 2012-13 season when both were Sweet 16 teams. LYNNE SLADKY | AP

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