MIAMI (AP) — Malik Leno scored 28 points and made all 10 free throws to help Miami erase a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Pittsburgh 76-69 on Tuesday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener.
After Pittsburgh went on a 20-0 run, the Hurricanes (12-2, 1-0) trailed 43-33 at halftime, but Miami turned the game around thanks to Leno’s efforts in the paint and at the free throw line. The Heat outscored the Panthers 43-26 in the second half and took their first lead of the half on Trey Donaldson’s layup with 14:18 left.
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With 5 minutes and 57 seconds left in the game, Leno scored on a layup and the Heat led 8-0.
Donaldson scored 19 points and True Washington scored 11 points. Sheldon Henderson scored 10 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Ernest Udeh Jr. grabbed 11 rebounds and had three steals.
Miami shot just 4 of 22 from 3-point range, but held the rebound with a 43-28 advantage and made 20 of 26 from the free throw line.
Cohen led Pittsburgh with 17 points and eight rebounds, and Barry Dunning Jr. scored 16 points. Damarco Minor added 14 points for the Panthers, who improved to 7-7 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
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Next
Miami travels to Wake Forest on January 7th.
Pittsburgh hosts Clemson on Saturday.
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