The Sports Xchange
Nov 22, 2017
Dewan Huell scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead No. 11 Miami to a 57-46 nonconference win over cold-shooting La Salle on Wednesday in Reading, Pa.
The game was played on a neutral court about an hour away from La Salle's campus in Philadelphia as Miami coach Jim Larranaga followed through on a promise to recruit Lonnie Walker. He was able to recruit Walker with the promise he would play a game in his hometown -- and the building was full of Walker's family and friends.
Walker scored just five points, going 2-for-8 from the floor, 0-for-4 from 3-point range, grabbing two rebounds and dishing out two assists.
But Walker's shooting woes paled compared to La Salle as the Explorers shot 28.8 percent from the floor and missed all 15 of their 3-point attempts in losing their third straight game.
Anthony Lawrence added seven points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Hurricanes (4-0), who survived after going just 8-for-34 from the floor in a first half that ended 19-19.
Miami turned the ball over just 10 times in the win, La Salle coughed it up 15 times.
The Hurricanes came into the game shooting higher from the floor (54.8 percent) than from the foul line (50.8). They finished the game at 36.7 percent from the floor but went 14-for-26 in the second half – and went 8-for-14 from the foul line (57.1).
Pookie Powell led the Explorers (3-3) with 17 points and B.J. Johnson, the reigning Big 5 player of the week, posted 16 points and 16 rebounds in the loss.
The Hurricanes host North Florida Saturday, while the Explorers play a Big 5 game against Temple.