CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team (6-23, 2-16 ACC) fell to the North Carolina Tar Heels (19-11, 12-6 ACC), 92-73, Saturday afternoon at the Dean E. Smith Center.
Senior Matthew Cleveland recorded his 12th 20-point game of the season with a team-leading 25 points against North Carolina. Cleveland added five rebounds and five assists to his stat line, becoming one of seven ACC players to tally 25-plus points, five-plus rebounds and five-plus assists in a game this season.
Senior Brandon Johnson joined Cleveland in double-figures with 20 points of his own for his first 20-point game in conference play this season.
After missing two games due to injury, Cleveland got off to a hot start against North Carolina, scoring 14 of his 23 points in the first 20 minutes of action. He put together a personal 8-2 run midway through the half to cut North Carolina’s lead to four, 23-19, at the 10:14 mark.
The Hurricanes stayed within seven points of the Tar Heels over the next five minutes, but North Carolina closed the half on a 15-4 run to lead, 46-31, at the halftime break.
The Tar Heels made six of their first seven shots in the second half to take a 21-point lead, 58-37, five minutes into the frame.
Freshman Austin Swartz cut the Hurricanes’ deficit to 14, 72-58, with a 3-pointer at the 7:10 mark of the second half, but North Carolina ultimately shot 68 percent from the field in the second half to record the 92-73 victory.
