Armaan Franklin scored 22 points and added four steals, leading host Virginia to a 71-58 victory over Miami Hurricanes in an ACC game Saturday at Charlottesville, Va.
For the first time in program history, Miami (16-7, 8-4) did not attempt a single free throw. The Hurricanes shot 54 percent from the floor (27 of 50) but just 23.5 percent (4 of 17) from 3-point range
The Cavaliers (14-9, 8-5) also got 12 points from Jayden Gardner, 11 points from Kihei Clark and nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds from Reece Beekman.
The Cavaliers shot 60 percent from the floor (30 of 50), including 53.3 percent (8 of 15) on 3-pointers. They made all three of their free-throw attempts.
After alternating a win with a loss for the past nine consecutive contests, Virginia recorded first two-game win streak since Jan. 4. Virginia extended its winning streak to five games over Miami.
Kameron McGusty led Miami with 21 points, while Charlie Moore added 17. Miami’s Jordan Miller scored just two points, but he had a game-high seven steals.
Isaiah Wong, Miami’s second-leading scorer at 16.1 points per game, was held to six points.
The Hurricanes have followed a nine-game win streak by going 3-4 in their past seven contests. This 13-point margin of defeat was the largest for Miami since Nov. 28.
Virginia, which entered the game leading the ACC in fewest points allowed per game (59.6), clamped down on Miami’s offense.
In the first half, Miami missed its first 10 shots from 3-point range and fell behind by eight at 26-18. Miami made its next two shots from deep – by Moore and then McGusty – to cut its deficit to 30-26 with 48 seconds left before the break.
Virginia pushed back and led 35-26 at halftime thanks to Franklin’s deep 3-pointer at the buzzer. Franklin was the first half’s only double-figure scorer with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3 of 5 on three-pointers.
Virginia did little wrong in the first half, shooting 62.5 percent, including 5-of-7 on 3-pointers (71.4 percent).
In the first two minutes of the second half, Miami cut its deficit to seven points. But the Hurricanes never got any closer, and Virginia led by as many as 21 points before coasting to the victory.
–Field Level Media
