Miami (FL) had something to prove after almost losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Indiana just happened to be the team affected by their will to improve. With a dominating second-half run spearheaded by Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller, the Hurricanes defeated the Hoosiers 85-69 to advance to the Sweet 16 for a second consecutive year.
Photo Creds: (L) Sports Illustrated (Wong), (R) The Miami Hurricane (Miller, Canes #11)
Wong, the player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), had 27 points and eight rebounds for the Hurricanes (27-7). This performance came after he was just held to five points in the first-round victory against Drake. Miami (FL) is the also only ACC team still alive in the NCAA tournament.
Photo Cred: YouTube- March Madness Photo Cred: Sporting News
Miller, who had seven points on Friday, scored 19 points, while Nijel Pack (a native of Indianapolis) scored 10 of his 12 points in the opening period. The fifth-seeded Miami raced out to an early lead, held on for the majority of the game, and eliminated Indiana’s hopes of winning a sixth national championship.
Photo Cred: CBS 4 (Miller, Miami #11) Photo Cred: State of the U (Pack)
Hoosier All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis (senior) had 23 points and eight rebounds on the night. Additionally, his teammates Race Thompson (redshirt junior) and Jalen Hood-Schifino (freshman) scored 11 and 19 points respectively. The Hoosiers (23-12) haven’t managed to advance past the Sweet 16 since 2016… With this win, Miami will take on top-seeded Houston in the Midwest Region semifinals on Friday in Kansas City, Missouri.
Photo Creds: (L) Sports Illustrated (Jackson-Davis), (R) YouTube- The Daily Hoosier (Hood-Schifino on the left, Thompson on the right)
