Canes Inch Closer To NCAA Berth

Miami started out slow against Georgia Tech, in the opening round of the ACC Tournament, but as the night rolled on, the Canes got hot in Atlanta, beating the Yellow Jackets, 54-36.

Rion Brown helped spark the action with back-to-back second half three pointers, which sparked an 18-0 Miami run.

With 13:14 remaining, the Canes trailed, 27-24 before two DeQuan Jones free throws pulled UM within one. From there, solid defense and six points from Brown put the Canes up, 32-27.

Shane Larkin got a steal and a quick layup, the Yellow Jackets turned it over, Reggie Johnson made a layup, assisted by Kenny Kadji. 38-27, Canes.

Defensive rebounds and panic-mode from Georgia Tech — in the form of forcing three-pointers — let to a Johnson jumper, a Durand Scott jumper and a Larkin layup, completing the run of eighteen unanswered in just under five minutes of play.

Miami led by thirteen, went a little cold down the stretch — virtually scoreless from the 5:50 mark, despite a Larkin dunk and four made free throws. Larkin led all Canes with twelve points, while Scott got eleven and Brown netted ten. As a team, Miami shot just 33 percent on the night.

Across the court, a downright dismal night for Georgia Tech, who finished with their lowest scoring game since a 38-36 loss to Auburn back on February 7th 1961. It also marked the third time this season that the Yellow Jackets were held to under forty points at “home” (Phillips Arena is acting at GT’s home court while the campus arena undergoes renovations.)

Next up for Miami, a rematch against arch-rival, No. 17 Florida State, in Friday’s quarterfinals. The Canes and Noles met twice during the regular season, with each team taking care of business at home. Miami won 78-62 in Coral Gables on February 26th, while Florida State pulled out the 64-59 win in Tallahassee on February 11th.

UM and FSU will hit the court at 9pm ET tomorrow night, with the winner earning a shot at the winner of Duke / Virginia Tech.

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