Saint Mary's 64 - 78 24Miami
Final
  for this game

Back in the NCAAs, Miami takes on Saint Mary's

Mar 21, 2008 - 11:15 AM Saint Marys Ca (25-6) vs. No. 7 Miami Fl (22-10) 12:30 pm EDT

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Ticker) - Seventh-seeded Miami returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002, taking on Saint Mary's in a first-round matchup of the South Regional on Friday.

The Hurricanes (22-10), who started the season 12-0, lost six of their first eight league games but rebounded to earn an at-large bid out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Miami is led by guard Jack McClinton, who averaged 17.0 points per game and topped the conference in free-throw percentage by missing only 10-of-109 attempts from the stripe.

Saint Mary's (25-6) finished second in the West Coast Conference during the regular season but lost to eventual champion San Diego in the semifinals of the conference tournament.

That loss was the third in the last five games for the Gaels, who were led by freshman Patrick Mills' 14.5 points and 3.4 assists per game. The Australian native was named the WCC Freshman of the Year.

Miami leads the all-time series with St. Mary's, 4-0, but the most recent meeting was back in 1969.

The winner will face either Texas and Austin Peay in the second round on Sunday.






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