Wake Forest tops Miami in OT, improves to 3-0 in ACC

Field Level Media|published: Sat 6th January, 17:17 2024

Mar 9, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Nijel Pack (24) with the ball as Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward Andrew Carr (11) defends during the second half of the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. credits: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Miller scored a career-high 27 points, including a crucial 3-pointer and a pair of clinching free throws in overtime, as Wake Forest outlasted Miami 86-82 Saturday in a matchup of Atlantic Coast Conference leaders in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Cameron Hildreth added 23 points with a career-high five 3-pointers and Hunter Sallis scored 18 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the closing seconds for the Demon Deacons (11-3, 3-0 ACC), who stretched their winning streak to nine games.

Kyshawn George scored a career-high 21 points to lead Miami, which had a four-game winning streak snapped. Norchad Omier notched his seventh double-double of the season and 58th of his career with 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Hurricanes (11-3, 2-1).

Matthew Cleveland (17) and Nijel Pack (15) also were in double figures for Miami, which was without No. 2 scorer Wooga Poplar for a second consecutive game.

Miami took a 78-73 lead to start the extra period but Wake responded with an 8-0 run to assume an 81-78 advantage with 1:38 left. Sallis' corner 3-pointer with 23.8 seconds remaining then gave the Deacons a four-point cushion.

The two teams exchanged 7-0 runs to open the second half, leaving the Deacons with a 51-44 lead, but the Hurricanes later went on a 12-2 surge to put them up 56-53 at the 11:36 mark.

The game was tied eight times over the next 11 minutes of regulation with Miami's Bensley Joseph and Wake's Hildreth each hitting clutch free throws in the final minute to leave the teams knotted at 73-73. Cleveland's midrange jumper rimmed out at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

Wake Forest took advantage of a Miami field goal drought that lasted for nearly four minutes in the first half to build a 22-14 lead approaching the midway point of the period.

The Hurricanes shaved all but a point of their deficit with under three minutes left in the first half, but the Deacons finished on an 8-2 spurt for a 44-37 lead at the break.

Neither team was anywhere close to their typical shooting form. Miami (50.9 percent entering the game) was only 13 of 32 (40.6 percent) and Wake Forest (48.4 on the season) was 15 of 35 (42.9 percent) in the first half.

—Field Level Media