CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Norchad Omier scored 18 points and recorded a block with 1.8-seconds left and Miami withstood hard-charging Pittsburgh at the end to secure a key 72-68 win on Saturday.
Out of a timeout and down 70-68 with 10.3 seconds left, Pitt’s Jaland Lowe fielded the ball in the backcourt off the inbound and drove left. Omier picked him up off a screen and deflected his flailing shot attempt as he tried to draw the foul against Omier who has a four-inch height advantage over the 6-foot-3 Lowe.
Kyshawn George made two foul shots for Miami (14-6, 5-4 ACC) with 1.8 seconds left for the game’s final margin. The Hurricanes have won two straight following back-to-back losses.
Pitt’s loss ended its two-game win streak.
George’s 3-pointer with 13:20 remaining put the Hurricanes ahead 56-37. But the Panthers began their methodical return and with 4:11 left, Blake Hinson buried a 3 to reduce the Panthers’ deficit to 64-55.
Carlton Carrington made a jump shot, Lowe made a 3 followed by one from Ishmael Leggett and Lowe made two foul shots and Miami led 68-65 with 1:23 left.
Wooga Poplar’s jumper gave Miami a five-point lead before Lowe’s 3 with 46 seconds left. Poplar missed a 3 out of Pitt’s immediate timeout after Lowe’s 3 to set up the final 10 seconds.
Nigel Pack and Poplar each scored 17 points for Miami and George scored 11.
Hinson led Pitt (12-8, 3-6) with 21 points, Lowe 17 and reserve Leggett 14.
Miami capitalized on Pitt’s 1-for-10 shooting spell in the first half and went on an 11-1 run for a 25-14 lead with consecutive 3-pointers from Poplar with 8:48 before halftime.
Pitt hosts Wake Forest on Wednesday. Miami travels to North Carolina State on Tuesday.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.