Miami’s Matthew Cleveland scored 14 points, and Norchad Omier and Nijel Pack each added 13 as No. 8 Miami defeated Notre Dame 62-49 in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
Omier also contributed 13 rebounds for the Hurricanes (6-1, 1-0), who finished with a 16-0 edge in fast-break points.
J.R. Konieczny scored 14 for Notre Dame (3-4, 0-1), while Tae Davis finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Fighting Irish.
With former Hurricane standouts like Bruce Brown in town with the Indiana Pacers to play the Miami Heat, Miami held Notre Dame to 29% shooting, 19% on 3-pointers.
Braeden Shrewsberry’s 3-pointer with 7:25 left in the first half put Notre Dame up 20-19. But Miami responded with a 12-0 run, with five different players scoring during the burst that started with a Kyshawn George 3-pointer.
It was the eighth time already this season that Miami had a run of at least 10-0 during a game. This one put the Hurricanes on top to stay, though the game remained relatively close until the end.
Another key for Miami in the early going: Omier didn’t have a foul before halftime for the second time this season.
The Hurricanes are plus-59 this season in first halves with Omier on the floor, only plus-8 when he isn’t – and in the last three games, that disparity is even more obvious. It’s plus-41 with Omier on the floor, minus-20 otherwise in those opening halves.
BIG PICTURE
Notre Dame: It was Notre Dame’s 21st consecutive loss in true road games against ranked teams, a stretch that started with a 79-70 loss at Miami on Feb. 3, 2016.
Miami: The Hurricanes are off to a 6-1 start for the second consecutive season. It’s the first time Miami has done that since 2015-16 (6-1) and 2016-17 (7-0).
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Miami will remain in the AP Top 25 for a 19th consecutive poll when the latest version is released Monday, extending its school record. The 95-73 loss at No. 12 Kentucky earlier in the week will almost certainly cost the Hurricanes a few spots.
Notre Dame hasn’t been ranked since December 2017. Monday’s new poll will be the 113th in a row to not include the Irish among the Top 25.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame: Host Western Michigan on Tuesday.
Miami: Host LIU on Wednesday.
