Ja'Quan Newton, Miami Knock Off North Carolina In Chapel Hill On Senior Night

Some senior nights are glorious others come down to the wire and some end with the home team on senior night coming up on the short end. 

For North Carolina their senior night was spoiled by JaQuan Newton's shot that sent Miami back to Coral Gables with a win in regulation.

Ja'Quan Newton hit a running 30-footer at the horn to help Miami upset No. 9 North Carolina 91-88 in a wild finish Tuesday night. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Newton's heave off his left foot came immediately after UNC's Joel Berry II hit a tough 3 of his own to tie the game with 4.1 seconds left. Miami pushed the ball upcourt for Newton's shot over Berry, then the Hurricanes immediately mobbed Newton near midcourt. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

"When I was guarding Joel, he came down and hit a great shot," Newton said. "Soon as he hit the shot, I came around and I wanted the ball. ... I got it. I looked at the clock when http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspxI was dribbling upcourt and it said 3 seconds left. "according to

"I was just like: 'I've got to shoot it.'" "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Officials quickly determined the shot came in time. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Miami coach Jim Larranaga said he considered calling a timeout before the Hurricanes inbounded the ball. And as Larranaga gave his postgame comments, Newton stared at a nearby wall-mounted TV replaying his remarkable shot. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Larranaga said the final play ended up being simply: "Ja'Quan, score so we can win this game." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

It capped a game that saw Miami (21-8, 10-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) squander a 16-point second-half lead, only to come up with a huge win with the ACC Tournament just a week away.

Chris Lykes scored 18 points to lead Miami, which shot 55 percent."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Berry matched his career high with 31 points for the Tar Heels (22-8, 11-6), who lost their final home game to snap a six-game winning streak."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx


BIG PICTURE
Miami: The Hurricanes had won their past two games by a combined four points, including a comeback from 14 down to beat Boston College on a last-second 3-pointer on Saturday to reach their sixth 20-win season in seven seasons under Jim Larranaga. This one fit right in with those — and truthfully topped them. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

UNC: The Tar Heels entered this one trying to close out a perfect February, which included emotional rivalry wins against Duke and North Carolina State as well as road wins at Louisville and Syracuse. But they struggled for stops on a night when they shot 54 percent, and they also went just 13 for 20 at the line — including two to tie it in the final minutes before Berry's final basket."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

With the win Miami improves to 21-8 10-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to http://hurricanesports.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

Meanwhile with the loss North Carolina drops to 22-8 11-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Miami will return Florida for their next game where they will host Virginia Tech for their regular season finale on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 12:00pm from the Watsco Center. The game will be televised on ESPN2. "according to http://hurricanesports.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

North Carolina meanwhile will go on the road for their final regular season game on Saturday where they will visit tobacco road rival Duke. Tip-off is set for 8:15pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=1845&SPSID=22726&DB_OEM_ID=4200