No. 8 Miami Fades In 66-58 Loss At No. 13 Virginia
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Miami coach Jim Larranaga tried to prepare the eighth-ranked Hurricanes for the difference between playing Atlantic Coast Conference games in the friendly confines of home and trying to do it on the road.
If the Hurricanes, whose first two ACC games were 13-point home victories, didn't get the message when it was delivered, they might hear it next time after their 66-58 loss at No. 13 Virginia on Tuesday night.
"I told the team before the game that this was a game of who could execute better, especially down the stretch, and unfortunately for us, it was them," Larranaga said after his team's seven-game winning streak ended. "They got to the foul line way too often in the second half. We did not get to the foul line, and when we did, we did not make our free throws. ... You can't afford to miss those opportunities."
The Hurricanes (13-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 43-41 before Virginia used an 11-2 run to take a 52-45 lead. Miami closed within four with 5:17 left, and then three with 2:20 to play, but the Cavaliers came up with the plays they needed to hang on.
"In the last 10 minutes, we missed some open 3s that I think were great shots," said Larranaga, in his 32nd season, glancing at a stat sheet that showed the Hurricanes were just 6 for 22 from long range.
"We normally shoot better than 42 percent and 27 percent from 3," he said.
Malcolm Brogdon had 20 points and London Perrantes scored all 13 of his in the second half for the Cavaliers (13-3, 2-2), who ended a two-game slide. Anthony Gill added 15 and eight rebounds, and Mike Tobey scored 12 with seven rebounds.
Angel Rodriguez had 17 points and Sheldon McClellan added 13 for Miami, but Rodriguez was 6 for 13 from the field and McClellan, who arrived averaging 16.3 points, was 4 for 12 from the field.
The Hurricanes closed within 59-56 on Rodriguez's driving basket with 2:20 to play, but Miami didn't score again until Rodriguez hit two free throws with 29 seconds left. In the meantime, Perrantes hit a runner in the lane with 1:05 to play, Gill added a free throw and Darius Thompson made two free throws for Virginia.
Perrantes, who didn't score until 15:42 remained, sparked the go-ahead run with a 3-pointer, followed with a driving shot that banked in and then added two free throws. After Rodriguez scored for Miami, Mike Tobey scored on a hook, disturbed a layup at the other end and Brogdon's free throws made it 54-45.
Tobey's putback with 4:35 left in the first half sparked a 10-4 run for the Cavaliers, with Tobey scoring eight points. The burst gave the Cavaliers a 27-21 lead, and Ja'Quan Newton cut it to four with two free throws in the final minute.
TIP INS:
Miami: Larranaga was an assistant under Terry Holland at Virginia from 1979-86. ... Tuesday night's game marked the first time both teams were ranked when the faced each other.
Virginia: Virginia hasn't lost three straight since Jan. 8-19, 2011. ... In consecutive road losses at Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, the Cavaliers allowed their opponents to shoot 53.1 percent from 3-point range (17 of 32). Miami was just 6 for 22.
UP NEXT:
Miami plays at Clemson on Saturday.
Virginia plays at Florida State on Sunday.
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