The University of Miami men’s basketball team suffered a tough 78-68 defeat to the Boston College Eagles on Wednesday, marking their first loss of the new year. Despite a strong early performance, the Hurricanes (4-9, 0-2 ACC) couldn’t hold onto their lead as the Eagles (9-5, 1-2 ACC) mounted a second-half comeback.
Miami’s senior leader, Matthew Cleveland, continued his strong scoring form, recording 21 points, marking his third consecutive double-digit performance. Graduate student Lynn Kidd and senior Brandon Johnson also contributed, each grabbing eight rebounds.
The Hurricanes came out strong, opening the game with a 10-2 run, fueled by Kidd’s six early points. Miami’s offense continued to roll, with five players scoring five or more points in the first half, building a commanding 32-13 lead by the 8:38 mark. However, Boston College responded with a late surge, and the Eagles’ Chad Venning exploded for 15 first-half points, helping Boston College trim Miami’s lead to 41-29 by halftime.
The second half saw a different story unfold. Boston College opened with a 10-2 run, quickly cutting Miami’s lead to just four points, 43-39. Cleveland again tried to carry Miami, scoring 10 consecutive points to extend the lead to 53-46. But the Eagles had other plans. With 8:15 left in the game, Boston College took their first lead of the game, 56-55, courtesy of a three-pointer by Roger McFarlane. The Eagles’ shooting from beyond the arc was red-hot in the second half, finishing at an impressive 57 percent from three-point range.
Miami’s offense faltered in the second half, shooting just 28.6 percent, while Boston College dominated the period, outscoring the Hurricanes 49-27. The game ended with a 78-68 win for the Eagles, leaving Miami with more questions than answers as they prepare for their next game against Virginia Tech on the road.
The Hurricanes now face a crucial matchup against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., with the game airing on ACC Network.
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