Miami takes seven-game skid into meeting with Presbyterian

Field Level Media|published: Sat 14th December, 14:58 2024

Feb 3, 2024; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Nijel Pack (24) drives to the basket against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Looking for any positive it can carry into the road ahead, Miami will play host to Presbyterian in a nonconference game Sunday.

A Final Four participant in 2023, the Hurricanes limp into Sunday's matchup on a seven-game losing streak.

While Miami (3-7) did stay somewhat competitive in a 75-62 loss against No. 1 Tennessee on Tuesday at New York. But one of the losses in the team's skid came against Charleston Southern, which was 1-7 at the time.

Presbyterian (6-5) poses a challenge with its six top scorers this season are all returning from the 2023-24 roster.

That list includes 6-foot-2 guard Kory Mincy (15.0 points), 6-7 wing Kobe Stewart (14.4), and 6-10 forward Jonah Pierce (13.1).

Mincy also leads the Blue Hose in assists (4.4) and steals (1.9), while shooting 87.5 percent on free throws and 41.3 percent on 3-pointers.

Stewart is shooting 36.7 percent on 3-pointers. Pierce leads Presbyterian in 2-point shooting percentage (67.2).

The Blue Hose are coming off a 97-57 win over Columbia College on Wednesday.

"We had been off for a week because of finals," Blue Hose coach Quinton Ferrell said. "We wanted to be elite defensively, and I'm really happy with how we started the game."

Miami is powered by point guard Nijel Pack, who tops the Hurricanes in scoring (13.9) and assists (4.3). But Pack has been inconsistent and most notably held scoreless by Clemson on Dec. 7. That was one game after Pack scored a season-best 22 points against Arkansas.

Miami's main threat inside is 6-10 center Lynn Kidd, a Virginia Tech transfer. Kidd has been effective in the post with 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds , while shooting 67.6 percent from the floor. He is also shooting 92.9 percent on free throws.

Kidd, who averaged 13.2 points per game last season with the Hokies, scored 14 against Tennessee on 6-of-11 shooting, while grabbing 12 rebounds.

"In the first half, we had a terrible last seven minutes," Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga said. "We were awful."

Pack scored 12 points against the Volunteers, while A.J. Staton-McCray added 11.

--Field Level Media