Hurricanes rally to beat Gamecocks after Archie goes down with injury

The Associated Press

CHARLESTON -- James Dews scored 22 points and Dwayne Collins added 17 points to go with 15 rebounds, leading Miami past South Carolina 85-70 in the championship game of the Charleston Classic on Sunday night.

Collins was selected as the MVP of the tournament.

“It was a great win for us,” Miami coach Frank Haith said. “I thought our guys showed some composure, even though we had 24 turnovers. When we needed to make a play, we made a play. I thought our rebounding was the key to the game.”

The Hurricanes held a 57-31 edge in rebounding and shot 63 percent from the field in the second half. For the game, Miami made 8 of 13 3-pointers and USC hit only 11 of 34 attempts.

“Give Miami credit,” USC coach Darrin Horn said. “Every time we tried to make a run and get the lead down to a two-possession game, they hit a big 3-pointer.”

Former Chester star Devan Downey had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Gamecocks, who shot 34.2 percent from the field.

Miami (5-0) outscored the Gamecocks (4-1) 11-5 in the final 2:25 to clinch it. USC led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Miami came back to take a 34-31 halftime lead.

Miami outrebounded USC 30-16 in the first half.

The Gamecocks played without forward Dominique Archie for most of the game. Archie injured his right knee and left the game with 13:29 to play in the first half and USC leading 9-2. He did not return.

“When you lose a player like Dominique Archie, it's tough,” Horn said. “It's a blow, not only physically, but emotionally.”

Miami reached the championship game by beating Tulane 74-54 in the opening round on Thursday and UNC Wilmington 67-60 in the second round on Friday. USC opened with a 78-68 victory over La Salle and then defeated South Florida 69-66 in round two.

MIAMI 85 SOUTH CAROLINA 70

SOUTH CAROLINA (4-1)

Archie 3-5 0-0 7, Jackson 1-5 0-2 2, Muldrow 0-5 0-0 0, Holmes 4-10 2-4 10, Downey 8-23 2-2 20, Spinella 0-1 0-0 0, Raley-Ross 4-12 1-2 12, Galloway 5-10 0-1 14, Steed 0-3 1-2 1, Baniulis 1-2 1-2 4, Jefferson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-76 7-15 70.

MIAMI (5-0)

McGowan 1-2 2-4 4, Collins 6-11 5-7 17, Jones 4-4 0-0 8, Scott 3-7 2-5 8, Dews 8-11 3-3 22, Grant 2-8 2-4 7, Adams 1-4 0-0 3, Thomas 3-5 0-1 9, Johnson 2-2 3-5 7, Gamble 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 30-56 17-29 85.

Halftime–Miami 34-31. 3-Point Goals–South Carolina 11-34 (Galloway 4-8, Raley-Ross 3-8, Downey 2-11, Baniulis 1-2, Archie 1-2, Spinella 0-1, Muldrow 0-1, Jackson 0-1), Miami 8-13 (Dews 3-3, Thomas 3-4, Adams 1-3, Grant 1-3). Fouled Out–Collins, Holmes. Rebounds–South Carolina 31 (Holmes 7), Miami 57 (Collins 15). Assists–South Carolina 13 (Downey 6), Miami 13 (Grant, Scott 3). Total Fouls–South Carolina 23, Miami 15. Att.–2,531.