Nijel Pack scored 21 points, including the go-ahead jumper and a pair of free throws in the final minute, as fifth-seeded Miami beat Drake 63-56 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night. evening.
The Hurricanes (26-7) scored the final 10 points just edging out 12th-seeded Drake just a year after making the Elite Eight.
Norchad Omier added 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Hurricanes, who won despite being held to a season-low 63 points. Wooga Poplar had 15 points.
Darnell Brodie had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Drake (27-8). The Missouri Valley Conference tournament champions were outscored 16-1 in the last 4:29 and 10-0 in the last 2:28. The Bulldogs missed their last seven field goals and were scoreless in the final 3:24.
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Nijel Pack #24 of the Miami Hurricanes handles the ball against the Drake Bulldogs during the first half of the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, NY. (Isaiah Vazquez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Mo Valley player of the year Tucker DeVries, whose father is the coach, had three points on 1-of-13 shooting.
Miami will face the winner of the game between fourth seed Indiana (22-11) and 13th seed Kent State in the second round of the Midwest Region.
Brodie tied the game at 47 with a free throw, and then Calhoun hit two straight 3-pointers in an 8-0 run that Roman Penn capped with a jumper for a 55-47 lead with 5:40 to play.
Nijel Pack #24 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates after a basket in the second half against the Drake Bulldogs during the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON BEATS TOP SEED PURDUE AND BECOMES THE SECOND 16 SEED TO BEAT A NO. 1 IN THE HISTORY OF MARCH MADNESS
Miami, which only made 17 field goals in the game, found a way to get their defense back and make things happen. Pack started the play with a jumper and Poplar made two free throws and a jumper to close the deficit to 55-53 with 3:34 to play.
After Penn scored the Bulldogs’ final point on a free throw with 3:24 remaining, Jordan Miller made two free throws and Bensley Joseph made one to tie the game at 56 with 2:20 to play.
Pack, who was 7 of 15 from the field, put Miami ahead for good with his jumper off a turnover.
The Miami Hurricanes take on the Drake Bulldogs during the second half of the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. (Isaiah Vazquez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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BIG PICTURE:
Drake: The Bulldogs won this one until they froze at the end.
Miami: The Hurricanes looked disconnected offensively all night, but they’ll have to improve to get back to another Elite Eight.