GREENSBORO, N.C. – Despite losing Third Team All-ACC honoree Norchad Omier to injury after just 66 seconds, the top-seeded University of Miami men’s basketball team battled fourth-seeded Duke down to the wire in an 85-78 setback in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Fourth-year junior guard Isaiah Wong paced No. 14/13 Miami (25-7, 15-5 ACC) with a game-high 22 points, but No. 21 Duke (24-8, 14-6 ACC) earned the victory in front of a blue-clad crowd at the Greensboro Coliseum.
After the Blue Devils jumped out to a seven-point lead, Miami responded with nine straight points in just 2:32 to go ahead, 16-14, with 10:32 left in the half. Duke charged back up by four, but sophomore guard Bensley Joseph scored five points in 17 seconds to put Miami on top, 32-31, with 3:42 on the clock.
The Blue Devils, though, closed the session on 10-4 run and took a five-point lead, 41-36, into the break. Duke shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) through 20 minutes, including 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from 3-point range. Miami also posted strong clips, at 48.4 percent (15-of-31) and 41.7 percent (5-of-12) respectively, while also forcing eight turnovers.
The Blue Devils scored five of the first seven points coming out of the locker room and took a game-best eight-point edge, 46-38, with 18:59 remaining. Miami, though, progressively chipped away and got it down to one, 66-65, exactly 12 minutes later.
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