Wong, Miller lead Miami past Indiana, into Sweet 16

“Our guys had been disillusioned about the way in which they performed Friday, so we had been actually prepared to indicate that that is Miami basketball,” Hurricanes coach Jim Larrañaga mentioned. “We’re very arduous to protect.”

Wong, the Atlantic Coast Convention participant of the yr who was restricted to 5 factors in a first-round win over Drake, had 27 factors and eight rebounds for the Hurricanes (27-7), the one ACC group left in March Insanity.

Miller, who had seven factors on Friday, scored 19, and Indianapolis native Nijel Pack had 10 of his 12 factors within the first half as fifth-seeded Miami obtained off to a quick begin, led a lot of the sport and ended Indiana’s hopes of a sixth nationwide title.

Miami will face top-seeded Houston within the Midwest Area semifinals in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, on Friday.

“I advised the group beforehand the ACC must be properly represented at present. And we did,” Larrañaga mentioned.

All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis had 23 factors and eight rebounds for the Hoosiers (23-12), who haven’t been to the Candy 16 since 2016. Freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino added 19 factors and Race Thompson had 11.

Miami wanted 16-1 run within the ultimate 5 minutes to beat Drake. There was one other late run this time however it was extra composed and never as determined.

Indiana coach Mike Woodson — who referred to as a timeout lower than two minutes into the sport along with his group trailing 6-0 — gave all of the credit score to Miami, which held a 42-26 rebounding benefit.

“They performed their butts off tonight,” he mentioned. “It was a well-coached sport, and I assumed they had been the higher group. They confirmed it first half and second half. I assumed after we obtained again in it, we didn’t do the issues to place us in place as soon as we obtained the result in win this sport.”

Miami didn’t lose the lead till Indiana went on a 13-0 run bridging the halves to push forward 43-40. The sport was tied at 49-all when Miller, who spent quite a lot of time denying Jackson-Davis the ball, hit a layup to ignite a 16-4 burst. Wong hit two 3-pointers and Miller had seven factors throughout that stretch.

Miami led 69-60 when Wong drilled a 3 late within the shot clock, Bensley Joseph adopted with a steal, and Miller fed Joseph within the nook for a wide-open 3 that made it 75-60 with 3:23 left.

“We gained the sport two days in the past, and at present I carried out properly,” mentioned Wong, who was 7 of 15 from the sector and 4 of 6 from lengthy vary. “I respect the group for that serving to me out, getting me passes and getting me within the rhythm.”

Miller downplayed the sensation of some that Miami is underappreciated.

“On the finish of the day, all we will do is simply come out and win basketball video games,” he mentioned. “I really feel like successful a sport in itself is a method to get recognition. We’re going to the Candy 16. That’s plenty of recognition.”

Miami: The Hurricanes shared the ACC regular-season title with Virginia, which misplaced to Furman within the first spherical of the NCAA Match. Miami fell within the convention event to Duke, which was crushed by Tennessee within the second spherical Saturday. Pittsburgh was eradicated by Xavier earlier Sunday, making Miami the lone ACC group.

Indiana: Woodson has taken the Hoosiers to the NCAA Match in each years on the job. It could be robust subsequent yr with out Jackson-Davis, Thompson and Miller Kopp.

“Simply two years in the past, we had been getting booed in our residence metropolis, Indianapolis, off the courtroom within the Large Ten Match,” Jackson-Davis mentioned. “Simply being on this second two years later, it’s actually particular. It’s actually particular to me to have the Indiana followers in your again and simply cheering for you and giving them hope.”

One other win would put Miami in its second straight Elite Eight. Larrañaga has been to the Ultimate 4 as soon as, in his earlier job at George Mason.