HURRICANES, SPIDERS EARN VICTORIES AT THE 2009 METROPCS ORANGE BOWL BASKETBALL CLASSIC
Hurricanes player making a pass as he drives
Sunrise, FL(www.orangebowl.org) – The 16th annual MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic saw Miami Hurricanes down the FAU Owls in game one with the Richmond Spiders upsetting the #13 Florida Gators in the nightcap of the doubleheader on December 19 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise.
Game one MVP James Dews scored 15 points enroute to the Hurricanes 87-69 win over the Owls. Dews scored all of his points in the first half, when Miami built a 43-23 lead. Dwayne Collins had a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds for Miami, who enjoyed a 55-31 edge on the boards, 24 of them on the offensive end.
The victory was Miami’s first win at the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic since 2003 with its overall record now standing at 5-10 all-time at the Classic.
For the season, the Hurricanes improved to 11-1 and have now won 19 of their 20 meetings against the Owls. Raymond Taylor had 23 points and seven assists for FAU, which fell to 5-5.
Game two had Richmond rally from a 13-point first-half deficit to upset #13 Florida 56-53. Kevin Anderson made four free throws in the final 5.4 seconds to secure the victory for the Spiders, who earned their first ever win at the Classic. The loss dropped Florida to 9-2 all-time at the event.
Richmond missed 12 consecutive shots over a 9-minute span before David Gonzalvez's 23-footer with 1:33 left put them ahead 52-49. Anderson sank both ends of a one-and-one with 5.4 seconds to go for a 54-53 lead, and after Erving Walker made a 3-pointer, Anderson hit two more free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining. Gonzalvez was named the game’s MVP.
Alex Tyus scored 15 points to lead Florida. Starting guards Walker and Kenny Boynton shot a combined 5 for 23, including 2 for 11 from 3-point range.
The Gators led 32-19 after 18 minutes but were outscored 20-5 to start the second half.
With assistance from Orange Bowl Committee sponsors MetroPCS, American Airlines, BankAtlantic Center, FSFlorida/Sun Sports, Greater Ft. Lauderdale CVB, Miami Herald and Miller Lite, the Classic was the only Division I basketball to be played in Broward county this year.