The Sports Xchange
Dec 25, 2017
HONOLULU -- With 21 points from Dewan Huell and 20 from Bruce Brown Jr., No. 15 Miami rebounded from its first loss of the season with an 84-81 victory over Middle Tennessee in Monday's third-place game in the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.
After the score was tied three times in the last 5:23, Anthony Lawrence II put the Hurricanes (11-1) ahead for good 70-69 with a three-pointer from the top of the key with 3:21 left.
Nick King had 28 points for the Blue Raiders (8-4), with Antwain Johnson and Brandon Johnson contributing 12 each.
After suffering through its worst shooting performance of the season in Saturday's 63-54 semifinal loss to New Mexico State, Miami made 30 of 50 field goal attempts against Middle Tennessee (60 percent), 18 of 25 (72 percent) in the second half.
Miami fell behind 19-6 before tightening up its defense and holding the Blue Raiders to one free throw between Brandon Walters' follow shot with 13:33 left in the half and King's ice-breaking drive to the hoop at 7:12.
Huell scored five straight points, the last two coming on an acrobatic spin move in the lane, to cut Middle Tennessee's advantage to 24-22 with five minutes left in the half, and Dejan Vasiljevic gave the 'Canes their first lead at 25-24 with a corner three-pointer 11 seconds later.
Vasiljevic finished with 13 points for the Canes.
Paced by Huell's nine first-half points, Miami stretched its margin to 34-29 at the break. King matched Huell's halftime total to top the Blue Raiders.
NOTES: G Dejan Vasiljevic made three of six 3-point attempts to continue his torrid shooting from long range. Over the past seven games he is 20 for 39 from distance. ... Middle Tennessee and Miami met for the first time on Monday, with the Blue Raiders falling to 16-6 in neutral-site games since the start of the 2015-16 season. ... Miami played its final non-conference game of the regular season. The Canes open ACC play Dec. 30 at Pittsburgh.