CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Wooga Poplar overcame a slight ankle harm and scored a career-high 25 factors as No. 24 Miami beat La Salle 84-77 on Saturday.
Norchad Omier completed with 23 factors and Matthew Cleveland had 14 for the Hurricanes (8-2). Nijel Pack was Miami’s fourth double-figure scorer with 11.
Poplar, who averages a team-leading 15.6 factors, landed awkwardly on his left foot after an unsuccessful dunk try late within the first half. He instantly limped off the courtroom however returned for layup drills earlier than the second half.
Khalil Brantley scored 23 factors and Daeshon Shepherd added 15 for the Explorers (8-3).
La Salle rallied from an 18-point deficit early within the second half and acquired inside 71-67 on Andres Marrero’s 3-pointer with 4:24 remaining. Miami responded with six unanswered behind two free throws every by Poplar and Omier, together with a layup by Omier.
Miami outscore La Salle 15-7 within the remaining 6:26 of the primary half and lead 45-33 at halftime. Omier scored six consecutive factors throughout the run. Two jumpers and a dunk from Poplar within the first 3:03 of the second half elevated Miami’s result in 53-35.
PHOTOS: Wooga Poplar scores 25 factors, leads No. 24 Miami to 84-77 win over La Salle
Cleveland scored eight factors throughout a game-opening 21-10 run. Cleveland’s layup with 12:06 remaining within the first half capped the spurt for Miami’s first double-digit lead.
After lacking their first seven 3-point makes an attempt, the Explorers acquired inside 30-26 on consecutive deep 3s by Rokas Jucius and Marrero.
BIG PICTURE
La Salle: The Explorers completed 1-3 in non-conference street video games. They will return residence for 3 consecutive video games earlier than opening their Atlantic 10 street schedule at Fordham on Jan.6.
Miami: After committing 20 turnovers within the 90-63 loss in opposition to Colorado on Sunday, the Hurricanes restricted their errors to 3 within the first half. They had 5 within the opening 5 minutes of the second half and completed with 10 miscues.
UP NEXT
La Salle: Hosts Rosemont College on Thursday.
Miami: Hosts Stonehill on Thursday.
