RJ Thompson scored 23 points — including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 56 seconds left — as Charleston Southern shocked host Miami 83-79 on Saturday afternoon.
Miami entered the game as a 23.5-point favorite.
Charleston (2-7) won its first game of the season away from home after losing its previous six road or neutral-court contests.
The Buccaneers also got 21 points from Thompson Camara and 20 points and 11 rebounds from Taje’ Kelly. Camara match his previous career point total.
Miami (3-4), playing at home for the first time in two weeks, lost its fourth straight game.
Brandon Johnson led Miami with 23 points and freshman Austin Swartz scored a career-high 15. Swartz entered the game averaging just 2.3 points
For the first time this season, Miami was without Nijel Pack, who has a lower-body injury. Pack leads the team in scoring (15.2) and assists (4.7).
With Pack out, five-star freshman Jalil Bethea made his first start and had six points.
The game featured quite a contrast in coaches.
Miami’s Jim Larranaga, 75, has won 743 games in 41-plus seasons.
Charleston Southern’s Saah Nimley, 31, is in his full first season as a head coach. He was named interim coach in November 2023.
In the first half, Miami raced to a 17-10 lead. However, Charleston Southern posted an 11-0 run to grab a 21-17 advantage.
The Hurricanes lost control late in the first half as Miami’s Johnson hit a 3-pointer and was hit with a technical foul for taunting. Later in the first half, Larranaga was also hit with a technical.
By the end of the half, the Buccaneers led 45-37.
Camara led Charleston Southern with 16 first-half points on 6-for-7 shooting, including 4-of-5 on 3-pointers. Johnson scored 12 for Miami in the opening half, all on 3-pointers.
In the second half, Charleston Southern stretched its lead to 13.
Miami rallied as the clock wound down. With 38 seconds left, Miami called a timeout while trailing 81-79. With 15 seconds left, Swartz missed a 3-pointer and the Buccaneers got the rebound.
Daylen Berry made two free throws with 11 seconds left to ice the game.
Up next, Miami will host No. 19 Arkansas on Tuesday night as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Charleston Southern will return home to face Tennessee-Martin on Tuesday night.
–Field Level Media
