HONOLULU -- Miami expected to play for a title in the Diamond Head Classic, but the Hurricanes saw their hopes of a championship dashed 63-54 by New Mexico State on Saturday in the semifinals of the holiday tournament at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Instead of meeting USC in Monday's first-place game, the No. 6 Hurricanes (10-1) will face Middle Tennessee, which lost to USC 89-84 in Saturday's first semifinal.
Miami coach Jim Larranaga will have to deal with what he felt was a lack of energy from his team.
"That's going to be interesting," Larranaga said.