CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Matthew Cleveland scored 14 points, Norchad Omier and Nijel Pack each added 13 and No. 8 Miami beat Notre Dame 62-49 on Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
Omier added 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). 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 — and Davon Reed sitting courtside, 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 — in what has been a calling card for the Hurricanes this season, the big spurt — took the lead right back with a 12-0 run, with five different players scoring during the burst that started when Kyshawn George hit a 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.
Miami forward Norchad Omier (15) brings the ball up the court against Notre Dame during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Coral Gables, Fla. Credit: AP/Jim Rassol
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….
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