Miami defeated Drake 63-56 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Nijel Pack led the way with 21 points, followed by Wooga Poplar with 15 points and Norchad Omier with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Despite shooting just 30.4 percent from the field, Miami won thanks to strong free-throw shooting and rebounding. Miami will face the winner of the game between Indiana and Kent State in the second round.
Miami trailed 55-47 in the second half, but Pack and Poplar sparked a comeback. Tucker DeVries struggled for Drake and was held to just three points on 1-of-13 shooting. Miami improved to 22-1 on the season when they have the edge on the boards. Christopher Stock reported on the game.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night, the Miami Hurricanes defeated Drake 63-56 with Nijel Pack scoring 21 points and the team ending the game on a 16-1 run. The Hurricanes also got 15 points from Wooga Poplar and 12 points and 14 rebounds from Norchad Omier. Despite a five-point performance from ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong, Miami advanced to the second round to face the winner of the game between 4-seed Indiana and 13-seed Kent State.
Miami shot only 30.4 percent from the field but made 23 of 29 free throws and won the rebounding battle 41-35, which proved crucial in avoiding the upset. Drake led 55-47 after Roman Penn’s jumper, but Miami came back with Pack’s pull-up jumper and four straight points from Poplar. Penn’s free throw gave Drake a 56-53 lead with 3:24 left, but it would be the final points for the Bulldogs.
Miller made a pair of free throws and Bensley Joseph made one to tie the game at 56 with 2:20 remaining. Pack’s jumper put Miami ahead 58-56 with one minute left. Miami sealed the win with more free throws, as Joseph, Pack, and Omier combined for four more in the final minute. Tucker DeVries struggled all night for Drake and was held to just three points, 16 under his average, on 1-of-13 shooting.
Miami improved to 22-1 on the season when they have the edge on the boards. Christopher Stock, who has covered the Miami Hurricanes since 2003, reported on the game.
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