CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The 16th-ranked University of Miami men’s basketball team had played just two games over a 21-day span, due to the holidays and weather cancellation of the game against Vermont, so the Hurricanes were itching to get on the court Wednesday night against Boston College.
They also were eager to right their wrongs after dismal shooting in a road loss to Georgia Tech last week.
That they did. Guard Isaiah Wong found his shot after a one-game slump, and Miami came away with an 88-72 home win over the Eagles at the Watsco Center.
Five Canes scored in double digits.
Wong, who went 1 of 11 from the field and 0 of 8 from beyond the arc against the Yellow Jackets, made seven of his first eight shots on Wednesday, including three 3-pointers, and scored 21 points in his first 25 minutes. He led all scorers with 22 points.
UM improved its record to 14-2 overall, 10-0 at home and 5-1 in the ACC.
“They are one of the most potent offenses in the league,” said BC coach Earl Grant. “We allowed the game to get too fast, especially with them being such an open court team. We wanted to clog the lane, not allow Wong to have space, but his supporting cast hit all those threes.”
Miami went on a 15-0 run midway through the first half and had an 11-0 streak later to pull ahead by 17 just before halftime. The Hurricanes led 43-28 at the break.
They shot 60% from the field in the first half, 75% from 3-point range (6-of-8) and 88% from the free-throw line. And they stayed sharp all night, ending at 60% from the field, 67% from 3 (12 of 18) and 80% from the line.
They rebounded from their 76-70 road loss at Georgia Tech on Jan. 4. Miami shot poorly in that game, going 5 of 32 (15%) from 3-point range and 35% overall.
Another reason UM lost to Georgia Tech was that power forward Norchad Omier was in foul trouble much of the night. Although he led the Canes with 17 points and eight rebounds, he played only seven first-half minutes and 21 overall before fouling out with 2:15 to go.
Miami coaches sat down with Omier and reviewed video of all his fouls, urging him to be more careful. He took the advice to heart, and it was a completely different storyline in the first half against Boston College on Wednesday.
The Nicaraguan power forward committed his first foul of the night with 2:22 to go before halftime. He picked up two quick fouls in the first few minutes of the second half, and UM coach Jim Larranaga vehemently disagreed with the call on the third foul, drawing a rare technical foul.
Omier avoided another foul and ended up with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Jordan Miller scored 19 points to go with six rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block. Harlond Beverly came off the bench and contributed 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Beverly also had five assists and two steals. Wooga Poplar added 10 points.
De Marr Langford Jr. led the Eagles with 20 points. Makai Ashton-Langford had 19. Boston College slipped to 8-9 and 2-4 in the ACC.
The Hurricanes play at North Carolina State on Saturday at noon and return home for a Monday night game against Syracuse.
