1-seed Houston loses 89-75 to 5-seed Miami in Sweet 16; Miami's Nijel Pack scores game-high 26

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POSTED: March 25, 2023 -- 8:33 a.m. CT

KANSAS CITY, MO -- (T-Mobile Center)

The 1-seed Houston Cougars lost 89-75 to the 5-seed Miami Hurricanes Friday night in the first of 2 regional semifinal matchups in Kansas City, MO, in the Midwest / Kansas City Regional of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Too much Nijel Pack and too much Norchad Omier. Miami guard Nijel Pack made a season-high 7 three-point shots and scored a season-high 26 points to lead Miami to the victory. Omier, 6'7, 248 pounds of muscle, dominated the paint with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Houston senior guard Marcus Sasser scored the first 2 points of the game with a jumper at the 18:19 mark. Then, after a missed jumper, Omier set a tone by grabbing the offensive rebound. Pack sank his first three-pointer of the game to give Miami a 3-2 lead.

The Hurricanes (28-7) went on a 7-0 run and led 7-2 when Houston's Tramon Mark got hot and scored 5 in a row to tie the game at 7. Miami's Jordan Miller scored a driving layup; but, Mark hit his second three-point shot for a 10-9 Houston lead with 15:15 on the game clock.

Isaiah Wong scored seconds later to put Miami ahead 11-10. The Canes led by as much as 5 twice (15-10 and 17-12); but, Houston (33-4) responded to take 2 one point leads (20-19 and 23-22). Then, Nijel Pack scored 5 points during a quick 7-0 Miami run which resulted in a 30-second timeout by Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson.

After the timeout, Houston freshmen Jarace Walker and Emanuel Sharp each hit a 3 to tie the game at 29. The game was also tied at 31 when, once again, Nijel Pack hit a three-point shot. Norchad Omier followed with a fastbreak layup and a free throw to increase Miami's lead to 37-31.

Houston trailed 42-36 at halftime. Pack (14) and backcourt teammate Isaiah Wong (12) combined for 26 of Miami's 42 points. Marcus Sasser led Houston with 11 first half points.

The Coogs turned over the ball 6 times in the first half; and, Miami took full advantage outscoring Houston 15-0 in points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

Omier began the second half scoring with a driving layup and a free throw. After Tramon Mark missed a 3, Nijel Pack pulled down the miss which led to a layup by Jordan Miller. Omier with the assist.

Houston trailed 47-36 and Coach Kelvin Sampson quickly called timeout. Coach Sampson inserted senior Reggie Chaney into the game for Roberts who struggled most of the game. Chaney's energy and hustle sparked Houston's offense and defense.

The Coogs went on a 13-4 run to claw within 2 (51-49). Then, Nijel Pack erupted. Pack hit 3 three-pointers -- in less than 2 minutes -- during an 11-4 Miami run which increased Miami's lead to 62-53. After Jarace Walker missed 2 short shots in the paint, Jordan Miller hit a corner 3; Isaiah Wong made 2 free throws; and Wooga Poplar swished a 3.

Houston trailed 70-53 with 10 minutes on the game clock and never recovered. Miami's three-point barrage seemed to drain the belief out of the Cougars.

"The Pack kid, some of the shots he made were shots you hope he takes," Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said after the game. "The problem was he made them. Those were -- some of those were Howitzers."

"Pack's range was a little better than I anticipated," Coach Sampson acknowledged. "We guarded him to 23, 24 feet. He hit some tough ones. When you hit tough shots like that, it kind of raises the level of play of everybody."

Houston didn't get closer than 11 points the rest of the game.

Miami shot 57.1 fg% (16 for 28) in the second half and a Houston-opponent season-high 51.7 fg% (31 for 60) for the game.

In addition to outscoring Houston 15-4 in points off turnovers, Miami also outscored Houston 32-22 in the paint and 15-7 in fast break points.

Miami also won the 50-50 battle for loose balls. Coach Sampson credited Norchad Omier for winning those battles.

"There were so many loose balls that were batted around," Coach Sampson said. "He (Omier) always got them. We always got those balls almost all year. We didn't get any of them tonight. Reggie might have got a couple."

"I don't think the final score indicates the difference in the two teams," Coach Sampson said. "I don't think there's much difference in the two teams. They're good. We're good. But they were certainly better than us tonight."

Houston's stellar season ends with a 33-4 record.

Coach Sampson commented: "I'm proud of my team for a lot of things. Unfortunately, one off-night and you go home in this tournament. We just never could get a foothold. We kept climbing, and we'd get ahead of them, and then we just couldn't put stops together.

"Miami's got older guards, and they're really, really good. Wong, ACC Player of the Year. Miller is really good. And then Pack tonight was outstanding.

"But proud of my team. I'm disappointed we lost, sure. A lot of tears in that locker room because they care. But I'll go to war with this bunch any day. 33-4, losing four older, four senior starters from last year's team. And to have the kind of year we had this year is just unbelievable.

"I'm fortunate to have coached this team, and I'm grateful for being their coach. But tonight just wasn't our night."

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