AUSTIN, Texas – Durand Scott had 21 points and Miami had a triumphant return to the NCAA tournament with a 78-49 victory over Pacific on Friday.
The Hurricanes (28-6), who may be even better than their No. 2 seed in the East Regional would indicate, put the game out of reach with a 14-0 run midway through the first half of their first NCAA tourney game in five years.
Pacific (22-13), the California team that played its last game for retiring longtime coach Bob Thomason, was no match for the Atlantic Coast Conference's regular season and tournament champions.
After Khalil Kelley's three-point play with 14:35 left in the first half got them within 8-7, the Tigers went more than 7 minutes without scoring. Shane Larkin, the ACC player of the year, started the Miami run with two free throws, an alley-oop pass and a three-point play.
Miami plays Minnesota or UCLA on Sunday.
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