CORAL GABLES, Fla. — In an exciting matchup on Tuesday night, Matthew Cleveland delivered a standout performance by scoring a personal best of 32 points while leading Miami to a 91-84 victory over Syracuse. The player shot an impressive 10 for 13 from the field, further enhancing his game with five assists and converting 10 of his 12 attempts from the free-throw line.

Cleveland’s previous high score of 31 was achieved just a month prior, during a dominant 117-74 win against SMU on January 18. In addition to Cleveland’s contributions, teammate Jalil Bethea added 21 points to the scoreboard. Miami’s bench also played a crucial role, with Joel Djobet contributing 13 points and A.J. Stanton-McCray finishing with 10 points. The Hurricanes showcased their offensive skills by shooting 55.4% for the night, going 31 of 56, and hitting 10 out of 20 from beyond the arc.

For Syracuse, J.J. Starling was the top scorer with 25 points. Eddie Lampkin Jr. not only scored 22 points but also secured 13 rebounds, while Chris Bell came off the bench to add 14 points to the tally.

The game saw a tied score at 61 following Djobet’s three-pointer with 9:13 to go. Shortly thereafter, Bethea made two free throws to put Miami ahead by two, a lead they did not relinquish for the remainder of the contest. Cleveland’s layup with 1:48 on the clock brought the Hurricanes’ lead to 80-71, marking their largest advantage in the match. Earlier in the game, he had helped Miami reach a nine-point lead, 41-32, with a pair of free throws just before halftime, capping the first half at 43-34.

Looking ahead, Syracuse is set to host North Carolina on Saturday, while Miami, having secured victories in two of their last three games after enduring a 10-game losing streak, will travel to face Pitt on the same day.