Despite a career-high 22 points from Chaz Williams, UMass fell just short in their second half comeback bid in Coral Gables. The Minutemen trailed by as many as 11 in the second half but cut it to as few as three at three different junctures over the final five minutes only to lose their third game in five contests.
After UMass cut the Miami (6-2) lead to 77-74, the Hurricanes went on a 6-1 run over the final 2:36 for an 83-75 victory. Junior Durand Scott sealed the game by hitting all four of his free throws attempts down the stretch, helping him to a team-high 16 points.
Williams finished with 22 points on 6-of-17 shooting and hit seven of his eight free throw attempts. The transfer also added four rebounds and four assists and hit three triples in a game-high 39 minutes.
Sean Carter (12 points) and Jesse Morgan (10 points) joined Williams in double figures who failed to score more than 79 points for just the third time this season. Carter added a team-high eight rebounds including five of the team's 17 offensive boards.
Four Hurricanes finished in double digit scoring with Scott leading the way.The junior guard from New York missed all six of his attempts from the field but hit 16-of-18 free throw attempts in securing the win. Fellow guard Trey McKinney Jones added 10 points and a team-high rebounds as the Hurricanes broke their two-game losing streak.
UMass jumped out to a lead 14 seconds into the game on a Carter dunk but it would be very shortlived. Miami grabbed the lead less than fifty seconds later on a Jones three and would hold a short lead for much of the half. The Minutemen grabbed just their third lead of the game at 26-25 with 6:24 remaining before the Hurricanes went on a 16-5 run to end the half.
Despite their best efforts to cut into the lead, UMass failed to get closer than four until the final five minutes. A Williams jumper with 2:36 remaining cut the deficit to 77-74 but but Durant once again stood in the Minutemen's way. With the Hurricanes already in the double-bonus, Durant hit four free throws broken up by two missed Malcolm Grant missed free throws to give Miami its best win of the year.
The Minutemen will stay on the road when they take on East Carolina Monday at 7 p.m.