Brandon Johnson's Game-Winning Dunk Lifts Miami Past NC State In Regular Season Finale
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — To understand this game you have to take into account the season as a whole. The Miami Hurricanes have struggled outside of two games in conference play to get over the hump and take advantage of momentum.
The Hurricanes defense struggled to start the game but in the second half against the NC State Wolfpack, they played with great pride in their defense and fought tooth and nail to get within one possession.
The Hurricanes got within three points on multiple occasions but struggled for five minutes to close the game but still had another chance with 2:37 minutes left in the game. It was once again a three-point game. The season has been over since early December but the Canes still had their pride. The best transfer player the Hurricanes have AJ Stanton McCray has been one of the best players on the team.
He rises and hits the game tying a 3-point shot. 70-70 with less than a minute remaining. The Hurricanes go down and play great defense again. They get a shot clock violation and have the ball in the hands of their best player this season Matthew Cleveland with 20 and counting in regulation.
Cleveland got the ball with less than eight on the clock and went in for a layup but missed it. Flying in comes Brandon Johnson to put the Hurricanes on top and get the go-ahead basketball to win 72-70.
Sure it’s not packed in here but winning in this fashion to end the season is fantastic#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/hfJYIJozTo
— Justice Sandle (@Justice_News5) March 8, 2025
This was not the season that the Hurricanes had planned but they still go out with their heads held high and a smile on their face.
Now the new era for the Hurricanes is here. Jai Lucas will be introduced on Monday as the next head coach and the start of the 2025-26 season will be underway.
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Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University and is the site lead for Miami Hurricanes on SI. He can be reached at justice.sandle111@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@Justice_News5.
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Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communications with a concentration in Print and Digital Journalism. During his time in Starkville, he spent a year as an intern working for Mississippi State On SI primarily covering basketball, football, baseball, and soccer while writing, recording, and creating multimedia stories during his tenor. Since graduating, he has assumed the role of lead staff writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI covering football, basketball, baseball, and all things Hurricanes related.