Canes get Hog Tied and Drops Fifth Straight to Razorbacks in SEC/ACC Challenge
For about 38 minutes it appeared as though the University of Miami was going to get a big win in the SEC/ACC Challenge over the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Miami was clinging to slim one and two-point leads late in the game. They just could not hold on. The bottom fell out on the Hurricanes as the jumpers stopped hitting the net.
Miami lost the game in the final two minutes and got rejected by Arkansas 76-73 Tuesday night at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables.
For Miami, it was their fifth straight loss after starting the season with three promising non-conference wins.
“There are no moral victories; we all compete very, very hard to win, but there are a lot of things I am happy about,” said UM coach Jim Larranaga.
Nigel Pack, who was not supposed to play with a foot injury, led the Hurricanes with 22 points and six assists. Matthew Cleveland had 15 points and two massive dunks which gave Miami the energy to run with a second-half lead.
“It was a really big game, and that’s what Matthew needed,” Pack said. “In my opinion, too, it’s kind of hard when the competition is a little down, kind of hard to play our best. When the stars shine when the big games come, and that’s what he did [Tuesday].”
Miami held the lead for the entire game until Boogie Fland drilled a 3-point field goal from the right corner with 1:42 to play. Fland finished the game with 18 points and six rebounds to lead the Razorbacks.
“I thought Miami played really well, they made shots and Jimmy [Larranaga] really had them ready,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said. “They did some things defensively, trapped in the pick and roll. We just happened to make the last shot, or they win the game.”
The Hurricanes had an 11 point lead in the first half and had their latest lead at 71-70 with 2:25 to play in the game. Before that, Arkansas never had the lead. Zvonimir Ivisic led the come back with three 3-point field goals. He finished will 11 points in 13 minutes of action.
The seven-footer has good touch on his outside shot. Calipari relies on him to rally the Hogs when they are down. In fact, the big man is stronger from the perimeter than he is in the paint. During the second half he made a living on the perimeter.
Arkansas cut the lead to two at 49-47 after an 8-0 run with 13:46 to play in the game.
It was a game of runs as the Hurricanes finished missing six of their last seven field goals. Arkansas meanwhile, hit six of their last eight shots.
The Hurricanes played a very competitive first half as they led at the break 40-32.
Pack paced Miami in the first half with 12 points. Cleveland had 11. Austin Swartz chipped in with seven.
Miami shot 50 percent in the first half and was 31 percent from long distance. Miami secured their first half lead with 11 points off of Razorback turnovers. Miami only surrendered two points on its four turnovers.
The Canes played very well on both ends of the court. Miami's largest lead in the half was 11 at 26-15 with 7:33 to play. The Canes also went on an 8-0 run to solidify their first half lead.
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Scott Salomon joined On SI in April 2024 covering breaking news and analysis for the Miami Dolphins site, and has since contributed to the Miami Heat, Back in the Day NBA, Miami Hurricanes and San Antonio Spurs sites. Scott is based in South Florida and has been covering the local and national sports scene for 35 years. He's covered and has been credentialed for the Super Bowl, the NFL Combine, various Orange Bowls and college football championship games. Scott was also credentialed for the NBA All-Star game and covered the Miami Heat during their first six seasons for USA TODAY. Scott is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Communication and the St. Thomas University School of Law. Scott has two sons and his hobbies include watching sports on television and binge watching shows on various streaming services.