Miami Outlasts Shorthanded FAU Squad

Monday, January 5

Coral Gables, Fla.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Miami

1/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Jan. 5, 2009

Final Stats

CORAL GABLES, FL - Florida Atlantic trailed Miami by just four midway through the second half before the homestanding Hurricanes pulled away, winning 85-69 at the BankUnited Center Monday.

FAU (4-11) played with just eight available bodies. Senior guard Carderro Nwoji made six 3s and finished with 20 points for the Owls before fouling out with 8:10 left. Nowji went 6 of 8 from long range, helping the Owls make 11 triples on the night.

Miami (11-3) received 24 points from Dwayne Collins, who scored 12-straight for the Canes during a 16-4 second half run. Collins scored 18 points in the second half, allowing Miami to lead 75-60 with 4:37 left.

"I wish we could have made a couple of more shots early in the second half so we could really scare them," said FAU head coach Mike Jarvis. "I thought the guys competed for the full game. Obviously to beat this Miami team, we would have to of made a few more plays."

Down by just five at halftime, FAU had cut the lead to four, 50-46, at the 13:02 mark on a pair Paul Graham III free-throws. Graham finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Hurricanes benefited by scoring 13 consecutive points via the free throw line in the second half. They made 26-of-33 from the charity stripe on the night.

Jack McClinton finished with 20 points for UM and moved past Mike Wittman for 14th place on Miami's career scoring list with 1,327 points.

"If you look at their last five ball games, they have been in every one," said Miami head coach Frank Haith about FAU. "They haven't been blown out. Even the Kentucky game, was only a seven point win (for Kentucky). These guys have been in every single game. What happens is it is a tough matchup because they put four guards out there."

Freshman guard Alex Tucker started in the absence of senior forward Carlos Monroe and distributed an FAU season-high 10 assists. Rookie classmate Shavar Richardson scored 19.

"We have just been falling short and we have to get over that hump," said Richardson. "We know we can stick around with these teams and that gives us more confidence going into some tough league games."

The Owls next play at Sun Belt Conference rival Middle Tennessee State Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET.