Kameron McGusty scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds as the host Miami Hurricanes defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins, 77-67, on Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams.
McGusty made 8-of-14 shots from the floor, including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers.
His strong performance helped cover for teammate Isaiah Wong, who was held to seven points. Wong, a preseason first-team All-ACC selection, made 3-of-11 shots from the floor, including 0-of-3 on 3-pointers.
Miami also got 14 points off the bench from Anthony Walker.
Malek Green, the Metro Atlantic Conference’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year, led Canisius with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds.
The Griffins also got 11 points from Armon Harried and 10 from Akrum Ahemed.
Canisius, which returns four starters from last season, played a Power Five conference team for the first time in 23 months.
Veteran college basketball players Charlie Moore and Jordan Miller made their Miami debuts. Moore, who has played for Cal, DePaul and Kansas, scored 13 points and added four assists. Miller, a transfer from George Mason, scored five points.
Miami’s Sam Waardenburg, who missed last season due to injury, started and had 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Canisius missed eight of its first nine 3-pointers, falling behind 30-19 with 5:41 left in the first half.
But the Griffins then went on an 8-0 run. A jumper by Miami’s Moore with 2:14 left broke that streak, and Miami went into halftime with a 37-31 lead.
For the first half, Miami shot 53.1 percent from the floor, including 3-for-7 on 3-pointers. But the Hurricanes did not make a free throw (0-for-2).
Canisius shot 41.9 percent, including 2-for-12 on 3-pointers before intermission. The Griffins made 3-of-5 free throws.
Green led all first-half scorers with 13 points. McGusty had 12.
Canisius made another run early in the second half, cutting its deficit to 40-38 on a Jordan Henderson 3-pointer with 18:14 remaining.
But McGusty made a 3-pointer on Miami’s next possession, and the Hurricanes cruised from there.
–Field Level Media