Coral Gables, Fla. - Jack McClinton scored a game-high 24 points, including four straight free throws late in the game, to help Miami hold off a rally by the Robert Morris University men's basketball team in the second half Sunday afternoon en route to a 70-62 win at BankUnited Center.

The defeat drops the Colonials to 4-5 overall on the 2008-09 campaign, while the Hurricanes improve to 7-2.     

Trailing, 37-25, at halftime, RMU used a 12-4 surge to close within 41-37 in the opening minutes after the break. Senior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.), junior guard Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) and sophomore guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) each hit three-pointers, while Langhurst capped the run with a pair of free throws.  

Dwayne Collins converted a three-point play and a layup by James Dews pushed Miami to a 46-37 advantage, but another three-pointer from Wallace and a tip-in by senior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) kept RMU within striking distance, 48-43, with 14:32 remaining.   

Miami kept the Colonials at bay, owning a trio of six-point leads until a free throw from junior guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point) and a trifecta by Langhurst made it a one possession game, 57-55, with 6:04 to go.  

McClinton, who was held without a field goal in the second half, converted four straight free throws to push the lead to 61-55 in favor of the Hurricanes.

Miami converted just two field goals in the final six minutes of action, with James Graham providing a dunk with 2:31 to go and a three-pointer from Lance Hurdle with just 33 seconds remaining.     

Langhurst and Wallace paced the Colonials with 13 points each, while Chappell finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a career-high six steals. Nwigwe contributed nine points off the bench. In addition to the 24 points from McClinton, Collins and Dews each finished with 11, while Hurdle contributed 10 points. 

Robert Morris continues its three-game road trip Wednesday, Dec. 17, with a 7:00 p.m. tip at Lafayette.