Miami Hurricanes Fall 73-56 to Iowa State at Advocare Invitational

The Miami Hurricanes suffered their first loss of the season with a 73-56 defeat to Iowa State in the Semifinals of the Advocare invitational in Orlando. Miami will play the Florida-Gonzaga loser in Sunday’s third place game at 4:30.

Iowa State had a late 10-1 run in the first half to turn a 26-25 deficit into a 35-27 lead. Two Kamari Murphy free throws with seven seconds left in the first half narrowed the halftime margin to 35-29.

The Hurricanes offense had trouble throughout the game. The Cyclones run came after a Ja’Quan Newton three-point play with 4:06 remaining in the first half. Miami did not make another field goal until 18:13 remained in the game. That’s 5:54 without making a shot from the field.

Newton was the only one that gave Jim Larranaga consistency on offense. Newton shot 9-13 and finished with 18 points. His teammates combined to make only another nine field goals and finished nine for 37 from the floor.

Miami made only two of their 16 three point attempts. They did make 18 of their 22 shots from the foul line, but Iowa State was a bit better connecting on 15 of 18 from the line.

The Hurricanes defense, which had been stellar through the first four games of the season struggled in the first half. They were able to keep Iowa State’s All-American guard Monte Morris in check. Morris finished six points and five assists on two for eight from the floor.

Utilizing a four guard lineup, the Cyclones shot the ball well from beyond the arc in the first half. They made six of their eight three point attempts before halftime to seize the six point lead at the break.

Three Cyclones finished in double figures led by Deonte Burton who had 21 points, seven rebounds and made all three of his three points shots. The Cyclones also did a good job taking care of the ball with only ten turnovers to Miami’s 19.

The Hurricanes offense never seemed to get a rhythm going and they were extremely inefficient. Miami finished the game with six assists to the 19 turnovers. Senior wing Davon Reed was the only other Hurricane in double figures with 13. Reed shot just two for nine from the field.

The Hurricanes defense tightened up in the second half. Iowa State made just two of their 11 three point attempts after halftime. The Cyclones shot 41 percent from the floor overall for the game.

Iowa State blew the game open in the second half with a 17-2 run. Iowa State went on a 10-0 run, holding Miami scoreless for 6:05. Two Kamari Murphy free throws ended the scoreless drought. The ‘Canes would go another 2:31 without scoring. Iowa State had seven unanswered points during that drought to take a 63-46 lead. That was 8:36 without making a shot from the field.