Miami and Georgetown will play for third place in the ESPN Events Invitational on Friday in Kissimmee, Fla.
The Hurricanes (5-2) lost to No. 9 BYU in the first game of the event on Thursday, 72-62. As for Georgetown, the Hoyas (5-1) went on a 16-2 run in the final minutes of regulation, only to lose to Dayton 84-79 in overtime.
Miami hung tough with the Cougars in the first half to lead 33-29, but were blocked — literally — from winning in the second half.
BYU’s Keba Keita blocked seven shots, including six of the second half. Four of them came in the first 6:09, and BYU took advantage of Keita’s play to go on a 10-0 run and take control of the game.
“I haven’t seen blocked shots like that,” Miami coach Jai Lucas told the Orlando Sentinel. “He gets seven blocks in a game, that’s a big difference. That’s a separator. It changes their whole defense when he’s able to protect the rim and do that.”
The Hurricanes shot 42.4% in the first half, but with Keita clogging the key, Miami managed just 37.9% for the game.
Malik Reneau led the Hurricanes with 14 points and nine rebounds. Shelton Henderson added 13 points and Tre Donaldson had 12.
The Hoyas had an up-and-down game against the Flyers on Thursday.
The Big East team trailed by 15 in the first half and trailed by 14 with 5:46 left in regulation before their late run to force overtime.
Malik Mack, who led the Hoyas with a season-high 24 points, missed an off-balance 3-point try with five seconds left in overtime that would have tied the game.
Georgetown coach Ed Cooley did not think his team played smart and he felt they lacked emotion and toughness.
“I’m very, very disappointed,” Cooley said after the Hoyas’ first loss of the season. “We still have a long way to go.”
KJ Lewis also scored 19 for the Hoyas, but he fouled out with 44 seconds to go in overtime, taking away a huge scoring option for Georgetown in a one-possession game.
