Miami Takes Down Syracuse Behind Cleveland’s Career Night

Matthew Cleveland delivered another stellar performance, scoring a career-high 32 points on 10-of-13 shooting as Miami secured a 91-84 victory over Syracuse on Tuesday night at the Watsco Center. The win marked the Hurricanes’ second ACC triumph of the season, snapping a recent skid and providing a much-needed boost as they enter the final stretch of conference play.

Cleveland, who has now scored at least 20 points in six consecutive games, was dominant from the opening tip. The senior guard notched 15 points in the first half and continued his offensive onslaught after the break. His crucial three-pointer ignited an 8-0 Miami run that turned a 61-61 deadlock into a five-point advantage, a lead the Hurricanes would not relinquish. Cleveland also made an impact on the defensive end, contributing five assists, three steals, and two blocks.

Freshman Jalil Bethea added a career-high 21 points, while sophomore Paul Djobet matched his personal best with 13 points off the bench. Miami shot an impressive 55.4% from the field, including 10-of-20 from beyond the arc, making it difficult for Syracuse to keep pace.

J.J. Starling led the Orange (11-14, 5-9 ACC) with 25 points, while Eddie Lampkin Jr. posted a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Chris Bell contributed 14 points off the bench for Syracuse, which struggled defensively throughout the contest.

Miami built a 41-32 lead late in the first half, thanks in part to an 11-2 run fueled by Cleveland’s offensive efficiency. However, Syracuse clawed back, cutting the deficit to 43-37 by halftime. The Orange briefly seized the lead in the second half, going up 61-58 with 9:26 left, but Miami responded with timely perimeter shooting to regain control.

The Hurricanes extended their lead to as many as nine points with under two minutes remaining, but Syracuse continued to battle, trimming the gap to five with 50 seconds to play. Miami closed the game at the free-throw line, securing the victory with clutch foul shooting.

Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry lamented his team’s defensive struggles, calling the effort “unacceptable.”

“We just didn’t play defense,” Autry said. “You can’t expect to win games when you give up 90 points and let a guy like Cleveland get whatever he wants.”

With the win, Miami improves to 6-18 overall and 2-11 in ACC play. The Hurricanes will look to build on their momentum when they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Panthers on Saturday.

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