Hurricanes hope to rebound in bout with visiting Tigers

Dec 8, 2014 - 3:38 PM Coral Gables, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami-Florida Hurricanes will attempt to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they host the Savannah State Tigers in a non-conference clash at BankUnited Center on Monday evening.

Savannah State is in the midst of five-game road trip, which began with an ugly 95-49 loss at Indiana on Saturday. The Tigers have lost four of their last five games overall, and all six of their road contests. They will visit Kansas State next.

After producing wins in each of their first eight games, the Hurricanes finally stumbled on Saturday, dropping a 68-55 decision to Green Bay in the third leg of a five-game homestand. They will finish up the stretch of home games on Friday against Eastern Kentucky before tangling with Providence as part of the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational.

Miami has won each of the four previous meetings with Savannah State, including a 68-51 victory last season.

Obviously, nothing went right at either end of the court for the Tigers against Indiana. They made just 32.1 percent of their field goal attempts, while converting only 8-of-15 free throws. When they had their backs to the basket, the Tigers allowed the Hoosier to drain 57.4 percent of their total shots, which included a 10-of-21 showing from beyond the arc. They also suffered a 42-24 deficit on the glass. Demarcus Bryant scored 14 points on 5- of-15 shooting off the bench as the top scorer in the loss.

Savannah State has been inconsistent on offense this season, the team making good on only 38.1 percent of its field goal tries, while netting a meager 57.1 points per game. They are only assisting on 8.9 field goals per game as well, while letting up 74.3 points per game on 45.6 percent accuracy. Not a single player on the roster is averaging in double figures, with Javaris Jenkins (9.1 ppg) acting as the leading scorer.

Miami had offensive problems of its own against Green Bay, connecting on a mere 32.8 percent of its shots, on its home floor no less. In addition, the Hurricanes were outrebounded, 46-37, while letting the Phoenix cash in on 43.9 percent of their field goal attempts. Deandre Burnett netted a game-high 21 points, but it still came in a loss.

The good news for Miami is it wasn't overwhelmed by Green Bay when it was on defense. The Hurricanes have been stronger at that end this season, allowing a mere 61 points per game on 39.2 percent shooting. The Hurricanes certainly need to get back to the consistent shooting (.469 FG percentage) that they have demonstrated for much of this season. Sheldon McClellan (16.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg) has been a major part of the offense and he did have 16 points against Green Bay. Angel Rodriguez (13.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.7 spg), Manu Lecomte (12 ppg) and Burnett (12.2 ppg) have produced for the most part as well.