FINAL: Miami overcomes slow second half start, downs UCF 88-72
The path to a perfect season is still alive. Miami’s men’s basketball is now 2-0 as the preseason is officially behind us. On Friday night at Watsco Center, the Hurricanes won the game with an 88-72 win over UCF.
Everyone was getting involved against the Knights. Five different Miami players finished in double-figures, led by 23 points from junior Wooga Poplar. Followed by Norchad Omier (19), Bensley Joesph (15), and Matthew Cleveland (12) also reached double-digits while Nijel Pack added 11 of his own. True freshman Kyshawn George just missed the mark with five points but he also contributed one rebounds and two assists.
As a team, Miami shot a combined 51.0 percent from the field despite a slow start in the second half. The ‘Canes turned the ball over a mere 18 against the Knights defense tonight. The Knights finished just 41.1 percent from the floor and a poor 5-20 from long range.
At the intermission, Miami was up 41-27 behind a combined 19 points from Poplar (11) and Joesph (8). Pack also chipped in seven points and two rebounds in the first half of action as UM shot just under 50 percent from the field and over 40 percent from long range. On the other end, NJIT was held to just 34.0 percent overall shooting at the midway point.
Out of the halftime break, it was more of the same. When it was all said and done, the ‘Canes finished with a shooting split of 51.0 percent from the field, 47.6 percent (10-21) from deep, and 86.7 percent (26-30) from the free-throw line. UCF failed to shoot better than 45 percent from the field and 3-point range.
Next up: FIU back at Watsco Center next Monday night.
Trinton is the owner of CanesToday. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, he is a freshman in high school and wants to graduate from the University of Miami
