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• North Carolina State senior forward Richard Howell labored through a leg injury for 11 rebounds in 32 minutes. Howell bruised his right thigh after he was kneed in Friday’s game by Virginia forward Akil Mitchell and was in obvious pain Saturday.
“He fought through it and I thought he was probably hampered a little bit,” N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried said.
With its size, Miami probably would have a rebounding advantage anyway but with Howell hobbled, the Hurricanes had a 37-27 edge and 14-8 on the offensive glass.
Hurricanes big Reggie Johnson’s first two postseason games consisted of five points and 10 rebounds. The Hurricanes, who are probably playing for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament today, will need more from their big man to make a serious run in the NCAA tournament.
Wing Trey McKinney Jones, who was 0 of 5 on Saturday, will also need to find his shot for Jim Larranaga to reprise his George Mason magic.
• Miami’s Durand Scott made five 3-pointers on Saturday. He had a total of four in the previous nine games combined (4 of 19).
• N.C. State’s Lorenzo Brown finished 0 for 6 from the floor on Saturday and 5 of 25 in three tournament games in Greensboro. Brown finished Saturday’s game with eight assists and four steals but he also had five turnovers.
Joe Giglio
