AUSTIN, Texas, March 22 (UPI) — Durand Scott led all scorers with 21 points Friday and helped second-seeded Miami (Fla.) breeze to a 78-49 NCAA Tournament second-round win over Pacific.
The Hurricanes used a 14-0 run to build a big first-half lead that was never challenged and earn a spot in the third round.
Miami will go against either seventh-seeded Illinois or No. 10 Colorado in Sunday’s East Region action.
Pacific (22-13) stayed with Miami in the early stages of the game, with a Khalil Kelley 3-point play pulling the Tigers within 8-7, but Shane Larkin hit two free throws to set off the telling run.
Larkin had a 3-point play in the run, in which six different Miami players contributed, that gave the Hurricanes a 22-7 lead with 7:27 left in the first half.
Scott did most of his scoring in the second half, including three consecutive 3-point shots for the Hurricanes, who were up 59-29 after Scott’s 3-pointer with 11:52 to go.
Scott was 5-of-8 from 3-point range in amassing 21 points. Larkin added 10 points and was once of nine Miami players to score at least five points.
Travis Fulton was 6-of-10 on 3-point shot en route to a Pacific-leading 18 points.
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