Miami set a new school record by sinking 20 three-pointers in a dominant 94-52 victory over North Alabama, while Virginia edged Maryland 87-83 in an ACC matchup that tested both teams’ endurance. Meanwhile, Clemson fell 85-78 to Georgetown, signaling a tough stretch for the Tigers.
Miami’s shooting display was remarkable given their prior struggles from beyond the arc, entering the game with just a 22.2 percent success rate on threes. Brent Bland led the charge, hitting five three-pointers in a rapid 3:23 stretch, fueling the Hurricanes’ barrage. Miami launched 47 attempts from deep, an unusually high volume, but their hot hand made the difference. The ‘Canes ended with 60 points from three-pointers alone, overwhelming North Alabama by 42 points.
Virginia’s comeback against Maryland was less about flashy shooting and more about grit. Trailing by 11 points at halftime, the No. 6 Cavaliers shot an impressive 76.9 percent in the second half, outscoring Maryland 51-36 after the break. Virginia’s Sam Lewis helped the team rally to maintain their unbeaten record. The game also extended Virginia’s dominance over Maryland, marking their 10th win in the last 11 meetings dating back to the 2010-11 season.
Maryland started strong but couldn’t sustain the momentum. Buzz Williams, Maryland’s head coach, remains without a win against ranked opponents since taking over, now 0-10. Williams said after the game, “We did not have the physical, mental, emotional stamina, endurance from start to finish that’s required.” The Cavaliers’ ability to take control after halftime highlighted Maryland’s inability to maintain intensity throughout the contest.
North Carolina experienced another setback, losing 78-70 to Georgia at the Dean Dome. UNC shot just 29 percent in the first half, tying its third-lowest field-goal percentage in a half at home. The Tar Heels mounted a 29-13 run early in the second half but then went into a scoring drought lasting over four minutes. UNC coach Michael Malone pinpointed several issues after the loss, including being outrebounded by Georgia’s Blue Cain and Marcus Millender despite their smaller size compared to 7-1 Sayon Keita. Malone also criticized the team’s poor habits, such as not boxing out, “comical” turnovers, and failing to track Georgia’s shooters.
Clemson showed resilience in their 85-78 defeat at the hands of Georgetown, who went on an 18-0 run in the first half spearheaded by 7-1 Vince Iwuchukwu. The Tigers rallied in the second half and briefly took the lead at 66-64 with just over six minutes remaining, but they could not sustain the push. Ace Buckner scored 20 points and Cole Certa added 14, but the effort fell short on the road.
Pittsburgh improved to 4-0 on the season after rallying from a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Butler 76-64 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler led 42-34 at the break, but Pitt dominated the second half 42-22 behind strong interior play, rebounding, and defense, limiting Butler to one made shot in an 11-attempt stretch.
Virginia Tech forced 23 turnovers and closed out Mount St. Mary’s with a late 15-2 run, winning 82-62. Amani Hansberry led the Hokies with 20 points. Florida State, despite shooting just 2-21 from three-point range, defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 84-60 by dominating the free-throw line (36 made) and boards (58-25). Sebastian Rancid scored 17 points for the ‘Noles.
NC State controlled Troy throughout their 81-62 win, with Paul McNeil leading the way with 16 points. Troy struggled offensively, shooting just 20 of 58 overall. UNLV edged Stanford 76-68, shooting 57.8 percent from the floor and 58.3 percent from three, while Stanford hit only 3 of 21 from deep. UNLV’s Isaac Williamson nailed a crucial three late to maintain the lead.
SMU extended its undefeated start to the season with a 90-65 win over Ball State. The Mustangs, missing Rowan Brumbaugh due to an abdominal strain, opened with a 24-1 run and limited turnovers to just eight. All five starters scored in double figures.
Saturday’s ACC schedule features UNC Asheville at Georgia Tech, Southern Utah at Wake Forest, and Utah Tech at Cal.
According to Yahoo Sports.
