Nijel Pack hit the go-ahead jumper and added a pair of free throws in the final minute, and No. 5 seeded Miami pressured its way past Drake 63-56 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night.
The Hurricanes (26-7) scored the final 10 points, and allowed only one point in the last 5:37 in just barely getting past 12th-seeded Drake just a year after reaching the Elite Eight.
Pack finished with 21 points, and Norchad Omier added 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Hurricanes, who won despite being held to a season-low 63 points. Wooga Poplar had 15 points.
Darnell Brodie had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Drake (27-8). The Missouri Valley Conference tournament champions were outscored 16-1 over the final 5:37 and 10-0 in the last 2:28. The Bulldogs missed their last seven shots from the field and were scoreless the final 3:24.
Mo Valley Player of the Year Tucker DeVries, whose father is the coach, scored three points on 1 of 13 shooting.
Miami will face the winner of the game between fourth-seeded Indiana (22-11) and 13th seeded Kent State in the second round of the Midwest Region.
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