Miami Hurricanes unravel in second half, rally falls short in 74-71 loss to Virginia
Seventeen minutes remained in the game and the University of Miami was in the lead, not typically a situation where coach Jim Larranaga would call a timeout. But he didn’t like what he was seeing and wanted to warn his players that if they didn’t step up in a hurry, Virginia would beat them for a second time this season.
He was right.
The Cavaliers tweaked their offense, got hot during a 23-4 run, Miami let its foot off the gas and paid the price with a 74-71 home loss.
The Hurricanes had a comfortable eight-point halftime lead on Saturday, stretched it to 10 to start the second half, and it looked like they would reach a 20th win for the first time in four seasons. But Virginia shot 62.5 percent the second half after being limited to 37 percent in the first half.
The Hurricanes mounted a furious comeback, as they have many times this season. However, on this night there would be no late-game magic.
Miami had lost 71-58 to the Cavaliers on the road on Feb. 5. Although this one was closer, it hurt no less.
“We played a terrific first half, but the start of the second half Virginia really took over, Kihei Clark in particular just took over the game,” Larranaga said. “I called the earliest timeout of this season, and maybe ever when I called it with 17 minutes left in the game, but I saw the signs and certainly hoped we could correct it, but nothing went well for us for a while.”
Asked what he told his players during that timeout, Larranaga said: “I told them Virginia had become the aggressor and we were not playing with the same level of energy and intensity that we did in the first half and if we didn’t pick it up this is going to be just like it was at their place.”
The Hurricanes have been at or near the top of the ACC standings all season, but they need to keep building their resume to impress the NCAA tournament selection committee. A 20th win is a critical box to check, but the Canes (19-8, 11-5) will have to wait until at least Tuesday, when they play Pitt on the road.
The Cavaliers were the only conference opponent to beat Miami by more than four points this season, and they made it tough again on Saturday with their pack line defense and the 23-4 second half run that gave them a nine-point lead after trailing by 10.
Larranaga said the Cavaliers’ style of offense makes it difficult for the Hurricanes to trap them and force turnovers, which is the bread and butter of Miami’s defense. “Our defense has never been one that can just play man to man and guard guys,” the coach said. “Their offense and their defense work very well against us and that’s why we’ve struggled against them throughout the years.”
Miami had the hot hand early hitting six of seven shots over the first five minutes, stayed ahead most of the half, and when Anthony Walker slammed home a dunk off a Kam McGusty steal and assist to put UM up 36-30, the Watsco Center crowd erupted, and everyone was on their feet.
After three losing seasons and a decrease in fan interest, the resurgent Hurricanes have energized the fan base. The game was billed as Basketball Alumni Day. Among the former Hurricanes honored: Lonnie Walker of the San Antonio Spurs, Davon Reed of the Denver Nuggets and Dewan Hernandez of the G League’s Westchester Knicks.
The Hurricanes hoped to deliver a win for their alumni, but they fell short.
McGusty led Miami with 20 points. Jordan Miller was 7-of-11 for 15 points with six rebounds. Charlie Moore, who sat much of the game in foul trouble, finished with 14 points and four assists and Isaiah Wong added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Jayden Gardner was Virginia’s top scorer with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting and Clark scored 17.
“They were getting open looks, moving the ball and we just couldn’t find the same groove we had in the first half shooting the ball,” McGusty said. “We figured it out midway through the second half, but they went on a good run, that’s basketball. We can’t put our heads down. We have to stay together and not let one loss affect us.”
This story was originally published February 19, 2022 at 8:20 PM.