Miami starts a bit slow, surges past Binghamton

Field Level Media|published: Sun 10th November, 16:28 2024

NCAA Basketball: ACC Conference Tournament First Round-Miami vs Boston College

Mar 12, 2024; Washington, D.C., USA; Miami (Fl) Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga reacts after a foul call in their game against the Boston College Eagles in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Starting guards Jalen Blackmon and Nijel Pack combined for 34 points as the host Miami Hurricanes routed the Binghamton Bearcats 88-64 on Sunday afternoon.

Miami (2-0) got 17 points and two steals from Blackmon and 17 points and a game-high six assists from Pack. Combined they shot 11-for-22 from the floor, including 6-for-15 on 3-pointers.

Brandon Johnson added 10 points for Miami, and Matthew Cleveland pitched in with nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Off the bench, the Hurricanes got 13 points from Jalil Bethea, Miami's five-star freshman. He made 3-of-8 shots overall and 2-for-5 on 3-pointers.

Binghamton (1-2) was led by Gavin Walsh, who had a game-high and career-high 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including 4-for-7 on 3-pointers. He also had a team-high 10 rebounds.

Nehemiah Benson added 12 points off of Binghamton's bench.

Evan Ashe did a bit of everything for the Bearcats with eight points, a team-high five assists, four rebounds and a game-high three blocks.

Binghamton played well early, taking a 10-4 lead before the Hurricanes put together a 12-0 run. Pack had eight points during that run.

The Bearcats never led again.

Miami led 46-25 at halftime, thanks to 53.3-percent shooting overall and 8-for-16 marksmanship on 3-pointers.

Binghamton shot just 37.9 percent from the floor in the first half, including 3-for-15 on 3-pointers (20.0 percent). The Bearcats shot just one free throw in the half, and they missed that try.

No player on either side scored in double figures, although Blackmon had nine points on 3-for-3 shooting on 3-pointers.

The game was never in doubt in the second half.

For the game, Miami shot 48.3 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent on 3-pointers (11-for-31).

The Bearcats shot 41.8 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent on 3-pointers (8-for-24).

Miami had edges on rebounds (38-29) and free throws. Miami shot 21-for-25 from the line.

Binghamton shot 10-for-15 from the foul line.

Up next, Miami will play host to Coppin State on Nov. 17.

Binghamton will play Fordham on Tuesday for its fourth game in nine days.

--Field Level Media