Crowd helps Miami Hurricanes rally from 16 down, beat NC State 80-73, improve to 10-1
It took years of prodding and promotions, but the University of Miami student body is finally filling up large sections of the Watsco Center and the noise level in the building has gone up a few decibels as a result.
It reached a season high Saturday afternoon as the Hurricanes rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat North Carolina State 80-73 in their ACC home opener.
Miami improved to 10-1 with the win, 2-0 in the conference, and will likely climb into The AP Top 25 on Monday. The Hurricanes were third among teams “also receiving votes” last week and added two victories — a 107-105 win over Cornell on Wednesday and Saturday’s win over the Wolfpack.
UM students showed up at the game with fat head posters of the Hurricanes players, photos of giant baby food jars in tribute to Norchad “Baby Food” Omier and a sign that read: “Rank Us!”
“Well, it’s been a very entertaining week,” UM coach Jim Larranaga said, smiling, as he began his postgame remarks. “Wednesday we scored 107 and won by two. Today … I was so impressed with N.C. State. They jumped on us early … but as the half wore on, we did a much better job. It see-sawed back and forth. It was a very entertaining game, and we were very fortunate to come out on top.”
Larranaga said the spirited crowd of nearly 5,000 was a big reason the Hurricanes were finally able to pull ahead 70-67 with 3:40 to go on a three-pointer by Jordan Miller, who finished with a team-high 25 points. It was Miller’s most points in a UM uniform since he transferred from George Mason last season.
Isaiah Wong had 22 points and eight assists with no turnovers. Norchad Omier added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Nijel Pack had nine points.
“Did you notice the fat heads? That’s what we need, the students to be involved and feel like they’re connected to the players,” Larranaga said. “When the players look over and see their gigantic pictures, that’s what you call creating energy.”
The coach said they invited the Category 5 spirit group to practice early in the season and had chicken wings and pizza with them. The group has energized the student body, Larranaga said, as did the team’s run to the Elite Eight last March.
“I expect it to grow,” the coach said, pointing out that No. 3 Virginia is coming to the Watsco Center on Dec. 20.
Miller agreed that the crowd played a key role in the win.
“I didn’t know what the crowd was going to be like, a Saturday game at 2 o’clock, so I didn’t want to get my hopes up and be disappointed,” Miller said. “But the energy was electric. We love when people come support us and make it feel like a home game.”
It was clear during player introductions that the Hurricanes were going to have their hands full on Saturday.
Wolfpack starting forward DJ Burns is 6-9 and 275 pounds. Guard Terquavion Smith is projected as an NBA Lottery pick. Larranaga had compared Smith to Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies in his pregame comments. And their other guard, Jarkel Joiner, was coming off a 29-point game.
Burns made Miami big man Norchad Omier look average sized at 6-7 and 248 pounds, and he made his presence known right away, scoring the first points of the afternoon.
“He’s a big fella, and he can really score the ball and he did,” Larranaga said of Burns.
UM fell behind by 16 with eight minutes to go in the first half, but settled down and started scoring off defensive stops.
The crowd erupted and let out a deafening roar near the end of the half, when Omier slammed down a thunderous dunk off a behind-the-back pass from Miller, who got the ball from Wong on the fast break.
It got loud again just after halftime when Pack and Wong sank back-to-back threes to close the deficit to 43-40.
A Wolfpack 12-3 run put the Canes behind by 12 but then Wong and Harlond Beverly made a pair of threes to close the gap to four and the crowd went berserk. Miller then made a layup to cap a 10-0 Miami run that got the Canes to within two. NC State answered with a Joiner three-pointers.
Miami got to within two six times, the Pack responded with a basket every time to stay ahead until Miller’s three put the Canes ahead for good 70-67 — their first lead since 5-2 in the opening minutes. Wong and Pack made four free throws down the stretch to seal the win
Harlond Beverly provided a big second-half spark with seven points, a rebound, a steal on tenacious defense on Smith and Joiner. Smith, who was coming off a 33-point performance the previous game, scored 16 in the first half, and had only three in the second half. UM guard Bensley Joseph also stood out defensively.
Joiner led the Wolfpack with 26 points. Burns had 16 points, eight rebounds.
“I thought Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller were really good down the stretch,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said. “They made every big play Miami needed. Two guys returning from last year’s team, they were very special. It was a fun game. The difference is we didn’t get stops at the end.”
This story was originally published December 10, 2022 at 5:48 PM.