Neither a two-week layoff nor an undefeated Charlotte team were enough to derail the surging Miami Hurricanes on Friday night.
Paced by Durand Scott’s double-double and a serious dose of shut-down defense, UM (6-1) won its fifth consecutive game with a 77-46 victory over the 49ers (9-1) at the BankUnited Center.
Before taking the floor Friday night, the Hurricanes hadn’t played since a road victory against Massachusetts on Dec. 1. They spent much of the past two weeks studying for and taking final exams. But UM showed little rust against Charlotte, jumping out to an 18-6 lead six minutes into the game and maintaining a double-digit lead for the final 26 minutes of the non-conference meeting.
Kenny Kadji led UM in scoring with 17 points although it was Scott, a 6-foot-5 senior, who led the Hurricanes’ charge with a stat line that included 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals.
UM has won all four of its games since Scott returned from an NCAA-imposed suspension that forced him to miss the team’s opening three games. One of the games Scott missed was an embarrassing 63-51 loss Nov. 13 at Florida Gulf Coast.
“Durand is our leader vocally on the court,” sophomore guard Shane Larkin said. “He’s always talking and getting everybody in the right position. I think that was something we were missing when he was out. Nobody took that leadership role. … Our defense has definitely picked up since he came back.”
UM’s defense was certainly in fine form against Charlotte, which was off to the best start in school history. The 49ers shot only 31.7 percent (20 of 63) from the field and made 2 of 14 three-pointers.
“It’s about being mentally ready as well as physically, and we were both,” UM coach Jim Larranaga said.
Central Florida 75, Old Dominion 71: Calvin Newell scored 17 points and Keith Clanton had 15 to lead the Knights (6-2) past the Monarchs (1-9) in Norfolk, Va.
Isaiah Sykes and Kasey Wilson added 14 points apiece for UCF, and Sykes contributed seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Aaron Bacote led Old Dominion with 19 points.
The Associated Press contributed to this roundup.
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