The trio of AJ Dybantsa, Kennard Davis Jr. and Robert Wright III combined for 51 points to lead No. 9 BYU to a 72-62 victory over Miami on Thursday night in the semifinals of the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla.
The Cougars (5-1) rallied from a 33-29 halftime deficit against the Hurricanes (5-2) and advanced to Friday’s tournament championship against either Georgetown or Dayton. Miami, which fell to 0-2 so far this season against ranked opponents, will play in the consolation game Friday.
Davis finished with 18 points and five rebounds. Wright totaled 17 points, four assists and three steals, and hit four clutch free throws in the final 39 seconds. Dybantsa had 16 points and eight rebounds.
BYU’s Keba Keita collected a team-high 10 rebounds and blocked seven shots to go along with six points.
The Cougars flipped a 24-21 Miami rebounding advantage at halftime in their favor in the second half, outrebounding the Hurricanes 42-39 overall.
Malik Reneau’s 14 points and nine rebounds and Shelton Henderson’s 13 points led the Hurricanes. Tre Donaldson also had 12 points.
Each had a part in helping the Hurricanes lead by as many as six during a competitive first half in which they shot 42.4% from the field. But Miami’s struggles from the free-throw line cost it a chance to pad that advantage as it made only 2 of 9 attempts in the first half. The Hurricanes made only 7 of 17 free throws overall, and once again struggled from 3-point range, shooting 5 of 22 (22.7%).
Miami led 40-39 when the Cougars scored 10 consecutive points, sparked by Davis, whose 3-pointer gave BYU the lead for good with 15:55 left.
With 5:55 left in the second half, BYU senior Dawson Baker landed awkwardly after catching a pass on a fast break and collapsed to the court, grabbing his left knee. Baker was helped off the court and did not return.
Ernest Udeh Jr. returned to Miami’s lineup after missing the previous two games with a lower-body injury. He finished with six points and eight rebounds before fouling out with 1:12 remaining in the game.
–Field Level Media
