Mount St. Marys Mountaineers vs. Miami Hurricanes Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024
Preview and Prediction
Following a seven-game losing streak, Miami finally broke out of their slump with a much-needed 94-75 victory over Presbyterian last Sunday.
Now, the Hurricanes (4-7) will attempt to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since their 3-0 start to the season when they face Mount St. Mary's (7-4) on Saturday afternoon.
Last season's Elite Eight team, Miami has faced its fair share of challenges this year. However, head coach Jim Larranaga emphasizes the importance of mental toughness in overcoming tough times.
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"It's a long season and we can't predict what will happen tomorrow," Larranaga stated, according to SI.com. "I kept reminding the team in our meetings yesterday to focus on the present and not dwell on the past."
What the Hurricanes can do is continue to strive for balanced scoring, as seen in their first win since defeating Coppin State 93-63 on November 17th.
In the victory over Presbyterian, three players scored 20 or more points, including Matthew Cleveland who had a career-high 24. Brandon Johnson added 22 points and Lynn Kidd recorded his second consecutive double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Kidd is averaging 11.7 points per game, while Cleveland (10.6) and Johnson (10.1) are also averaging in double figures.
Miami shot an impressive 67.3 percent from the field in their win, setting a school record and raising their season shooting percentage to 49.5.
Leading scorer Nijel Pack (13.9) is not expected to play this weekend as he continues to recover from a foot injury. Larranaga told reporters after Sunday's win that he is unsure when Pack will return to the court.
Mount St. Mary's is coming off an 80-72 victory over LIU and has a 6-3 record in non-conference games this season. This will be the Mountaineers' first matchup against an ACC opponent this year.
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Dallas Hobbs leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.0 points per game and 3.7 assists. He is not afraid to face a power conference opponent, as seen in his season-high 21 points against Maryland on November 8th in an 86-52 loss on the road.
"We have a lot of guys who want to take the big shot, who want to make that play," first-year coach Donny Lind told the Frederick News-Post earlier this month.