National Basketball Association
Clemson 66, Miami-Florida 65
When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 2, 2021
Where: Watsco Center, Coral Gables, Florida
Officials:
# Jamie Luckie, # Mike Roberts, # Tony Henderson
Attendance:
N/A
By Field Level Media
Aamir Simms had a career-high-tying 25 points, including the go-ahead bank shot with 19 seconds left, to lead Clemson to a 66-65 win over host Miami in an ACC game on Saturday afternoon.
Simms, who also had seven rebounds and four assists, had the game's final points as he drove the lane against four Hurricanes defenders. He was Clemson's only scorer in double digits.
The game ended on a spectacular attempt that nearly gave the Hurricanes the victory. With just 0.3 seconds left, Miami's Matt Cross inbounded the ball with an 80-foot baseball pass. Isaiah Wong caught the ball and tossed it off the backboard, but it bounced off the rim.
Clemson (8-1, 2-1) entered the game ranked third in the nation in fewest points allowed. The Tigers were able to clamp down on Miami during the stretch run, forcing a pair of turnovers.
Miami (4-4, 0-3) lost for the fourth time in its past five games.
The Hurricanes had four players in double figures in points: Wong (13), Earl Timberlake (11), Harlond Beverly (10) and Elijah Olaniyi (10). Cross added nine points, a game-high seven assists and four rebounds. Timberlake had a game-high eight rebounds.
Clemson was without Hunter Tyson and John Newman, who have a combined six starts this season.
Miami got Kam McGusty back after he missed almost four full games due to a hamstring injury. He was used as a reserve and had nine points.
But the Hurricanes still do not have their top player, Chris Lykes (ankle). Lykes, who led Miami in scoring last season (15.4), has missed six full games.
Clemson coach Brad Brownell earned his first win over Miami's Jim Larranaga when the latter was at home. The ledger in those scenarios now reads 9-1.
The Tigers, who made five of their first six 3-pointers, led by as many as 12 points. But the Tigers missed five of their next six, and Miami closed the first half on a 12-2 run to take a 34-32 lead into the break.
Miami led 65-61 late in the second half before Clemson's Nick Honor made a 3-pointer with 1:05 left.
After Olaniyi was called for traveling, Simms made his bank shot with 19 seconds left. Miami still had a chance to go ahead, but Honor stole the ball from McGusty, and the Hurricanes' miracle try at the end was off the mark.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Clemson |
|
Miami-Florida |
|
Aamir Simms 25 |
Scoring |
Isaiah Wong 13 |
|
Nick Honor 5 |
Assists |
Matt Cross 7 |
|
Aamir Simms 7 |
Rebounds |
Earl Timberlake 8 |
|
Aamir Simms 3 |
Free Throws Made |
Isaiah Wong 6 |
|
Nick Honor 4 |
Steals |
Harlond Beverly 2 |
|
Aamir Simms 4 |
Blocks |
Earl Timberlake 2 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Clemson
|
66 |
44.1 |
9-21 |
5-7 |
18 |
25 |
5 |
6 |
12 |
| Miami-Florida
|
65 |
46.9 |
7-17 |
12-18 |
17 |
31 |
3 |
7 |
16 |
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