CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Anthony King scored a team-high 11
points as Miami rallied for a 55-51 victory over Morgan State on
Saturday.
The Hurricanes (5-0) outscored the Bears 9-0 in the final 4:28
and overcome a 51-46 deficit.
Brian Asbury's steal and fast-break dunk with 2:30 remaining
gave the Hurricanes their first lead 52-51 since midway through the
first half.
Morgan State's Boucabar Coly missed the front end of a
one-on-one free throw opportunity with 1:15 remaining. The Bears'
Marquise Kately also missed the front end of a one-and-one with 40
seconds left. Asbury's free throw with 20 seconds left increased
the lead to 53-51.
The Bears had one final possession at tying or taking the lead
but the ball rolled off Coly's leg out of bounds on a drive to the
basket.
Lance Hurdle's two-free throws with five seconds remaining
clinched the victory. Kately led Morgan State with 19 points and
Jamar Smith added 17. The loss snapped Morgan State's four-game
winning streak, following a season-opening loss at Connecticut.
The Bears built a lead late in the first half and maintained it
until the Hurricanes late comeback.
Smith's 3-pointer with 7:47 remaining in regulation increased
Morgan State's advantage to 48-41. Miami played without leading
scorer Jack McClinton. McClinton, who is averaging 14 points per
game, sat out Saturday because of a sprained left thumb.
James Dews, who finished with 10 points, and Eddie Rios hit
3-pointers as the Hurricanes opened the game with a 9-0 run in the
first 3:46. But the Bears outscored the Hurricanes 12-2 for their
first lead in the following 3:58. Smith and Reggie Holmes each
scored five points during the run. Smith's field goal with 4:43
remaining in the first half capped an 8-0 run and increased Morgan
States advantage to 26-22.