Miami Overpowers Detroit 77-62
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Durand Scott and Shane Larkin scored 15 points each to lead Miami to a 77-62 win over Detroit on Saturday.
For Scott, a senior guard, it was a successful return from a six-game suspension which began with the Hurricanes' final three games of last season. The NCAA declared Scott ineligible for receiving impermissible benefits during the tenure of former Miami coach Frank Haith.
Kenny Kadji finished with a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) for the Hurricanes (3-1). Trey McKinney Jones was Miami's fourth double-figure scorer with 13 points.
The Hurricanes outscored Detroit 6-0 in the first 4:13 of the second half for their first double-digit lead. Scott's driving jumper with 15:57 remaining ended the spurt and gave Miami a 51-41 advantage.
Nick Minnerath hit his fifth 3-pointer and cut Miami's lead to 44-37. Minnerath scored 22 points to lead the Titans (2-2).
Miami responded with a 14-5 spurt following Minnerath's 3-pointer. Larkin's driving layup with 9:00 remaining capped the run and increased the Hurricanes' lead to 58-42.
The Titans got to within 68-60 after Ray McCallum's basket with 2:30 remaining. After a Miami turnover, Detroit had a chance to cut further into the lead but McCallum was called for an offensive foul while driving to the basket with 2:20 left.
Doug Anderson's dunk with 1:27 remaining again got the Titans to within an eight-point gap at 70-62.
McKinney Jones hit a 3-pointer then converted a slam dunk in a 15-second span and Rion Brown knocked down two free throws to help the Hurricanes clinch the victory.
McCallum and Jason Calliste scored 15 points each for Detroit. Calliste scored all his points in the second half.
Minnerath hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Titans their largest lead of the first half at 25-21 with 6:22 remaining.
The Hurricanes rallied with nine unanswered points and took the lead for good in a 2:34 stretch late in the half. Larkin's 3-pointer with 1:34 remaining ended the surge for a 35-28 Miami lead.
Minnerath's 3-pointer with 1:03 left cut the Hurricanes' lead to 35-31 at halftime.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
