CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team (6-21, 2-14 ACC) lost to the Virginia Tech Hokies (12-15, 7-9 ACC), 81-68, Saturday night at the Watsco Center.

Redshirt junior A.J. Staton-McCray eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in his career on Saturday, pouring in 21 total points to lead the Hurricanes in scoring. The guard has scored 10-plus points in four of the last five contests and 20-plus on two occasions.

A trio of Hurricanes – Lynn Kidd (16), Paul Djobet (12), and Brandon Johnson (10) – joined Staton-McCray in double-figures in the game.

Virginia Tech and Miami were both extremely efficient on offense in the first half, shooting 53.3 percent and 52 percent from the field, respectively. Staton-McCray scored 12 first-half points to lead all scorers in the first 20 minutes.

The Hokies led by as much as eight in the first half, but Miami continued to battle, and a 3-pointer by freshman Austin Swartz with four seconds left in the half tied the game at 38 at the halftime break.

Staton-McCray put the Hurricanes up six, 48-42, with a 3-pointer at the 15:14 mark, but the Hokies responded with an 18-2 run to retake the lead, 60-50, midway through the second half.

Djobet kept the Hurricanes in the game, scoring eight of his 12 points in the second half, but the Hokies knocked down seven 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes to secure the win.

On Tuesday night, Miami will host the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils at the Watsco Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.; the game will air on ESPN.

Courtesy of Miami Athletics

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