Miami beats NC State to avoid setting new losing record

Matthew Cleveland scored a game-high 32 points and Brandon Johnson provided the go-ahead bucket on a dunk with 1.3 seconds remaining, leading the host Miami Hurricanes to a 72-70 win over the North Carolina State Wolfpack in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon.

Miami ended the game on a 10-0 run, including Johnson's put-back off a missed drive by Cleveland.

Johnson, a Raleigh native, finished with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds against his hometown university.

For the game, Miami had a 32-12 advantage on paint points.

Dontrez Styles led N.C. State with 24 points.

This was a battle between teams that have made recent runs to the NCAA Final Four -- N.C. State in 2024 and Miami in 2023 -- only to finish disappointing seasons on Saturday with two of the three worst records in the ACC.

N.C. State finished 12-19, 5-15. The Wolfpack also finished 0-13 away from home.

Miami, which snapped a six-game losing streak, finished its season with a record of 7-24, 3-17 ACC. This tied for the worst season in Hurricanes history in terms of most losses.

It was also Miami's worst season in terms of win percentage at .226. The Hurricanes also finished 2-19 when trailing at halftime as it did on Saturday.

Due to injuries, Miami had only seven scholarship players available as starters Lynn Kidd and Nijel Pack and reserve Paul Djobet were all out. Pack has missed most of the season.

Cleveland, who produced his 14th game of the season with at least 20 points, scored the game's first bucket.

But Miami still fell behind 10-2 as the Hurricanes missed eight of their first nine shots.

By halftime, N.C. State led 41-31. Styles led the Wolfpack with 14 points.

Cleveland led all first-half scorers with 16 points.

In the second half, Miami cut its deficit to 56-53 on a Cleveland free throw with 9:07 left.

After an N.C. State surge, Miami stormed back again, tying the score 70-70 on A.J. Staton McCray's 3-pointer with 1:53 remaining.

Johnson's dunk then gave Miami only its second lead of the game.

North Carolina State missed its final four shots of the game, and the Wolfpack also had two turnovers during that span.

--Field Level Media