Depleted UM basketball team rallies, but falls short 83-72 to N.C. State
With the heart of its offense watching from the bench in sweat suits, the depleted University of Miami men’s basketball team made a furious comeback but fell short 83-72 to North Carolina St. Wednesday night at the Watsco Center.
Chris Lykes, the Hurricanes’ leading scorer and starting point guard, missed his fourth game in a row with a groin injury. Kam McGusty missed his third game of the past four with back spasms. Both players practiced on Tuesday, and Coach Jim Larranaga said “it is conceivable” they will return for Saturday’s road game at No. 8 Florida State.
“They’re not 100 percent, but getting closer,” Larranaga said.
Miami dropped to 11-11 overall and remains tied for last place in the ACC at 3-9
Freshman guards Harlond Beverly and Isaiah Wong started, along with senior guard D.J. Vasiljevic, who struggled with his shot in the first half but wound up with 18 points. Beverly led UM with 20 points, and Wong added 12 with seven rebounds. Vasiljevic and Beverly played all 40 minutes, and Wong played 38.
“We don’t have Chris or Kam, so that puts a lot of responsibility on Harlond and Isaiah,” Larranaga said. “They played well. They can leave the game feeling, `I played pretty well.’ Some of the credit has to go to N.C. State. They’re very good.”
Vasiljevic missed 14 of his first 18 shots, including his first six three-point attempts, before hitting a trio of second-half threes to help shrink the Wolfpack lead from 18 points to three.
Miami trailed 63-45 with 12:42 to go, and things looked bleak. But then freshman Anthony Walker’s dunk and Vasiljevic’s threes sparked a 16-2 run and Miami closed to within three, 67-64, with seven minutes to go.
The Hurricanes kept it close, but the Wolfpack hung on for the victory. Five N.C. State players scored in double figures, led by C.J. Bryce, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Markell Johnson scored 19 points and had 12 assists -- five more than all the UM players combined. Devon Daniels and Braxton Beverly had 14 apiece.
The last time Miami played N.C. State, Jan. 15 on the road, the Wolfpack won 80-63. Lykes scored 20 in that game.
One of the Hurricanes’ bright spots had been the improved play of center Reggie Miller, who lost 45 pounds since last year. Over the previous six games he averaged 12 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds. He was shooting a team-best 67 percent and 88 percent from the free throw line.
But Miller injured his ankle and struggled against the Wolfpack (15-8, 6-6 ACC). He scored five points and had three rebounds.
This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 10:44 PM.