Bland scores 26 off the bench, including 8 3-pointers, as No. 17 Miami beats North Alabama 94-52

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Brent Bland scored 26 points in 20 minutes off the bench, making a career-high eight 3-pointers for No. 17 Miami in a 94-52 victory over North Alabama on Friday.

Fellow reserve Nick Dorn added 18 points, all on 3s, and Shelton Henderson had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Hurricanes (3-1).

Miami went 20 of 47 (43%) on 3-pointers, breaking the previous school record of 18 set against Coppin State on Dec. 21, 2019. Bland shot 8 of 13 from long range and Dorn was 6 for 12.

Malik Reneau, Miami’s leading scorer last season, was held without a point. He exited midway through the first half with a shoulder injury and didn’t return.

Dante Allen had 12 assists and six rebounds off the bench to go with seven points. Miami finished with 27 assists and outscored the Lions 19-9 on fast-break points.

The Hurricanes, who made 14 3-pointers over their first three games, had 13 in the first half against North Alabama (2-2) for a 54-26 lead at the break.

Bland, a fifth-year graduate transfer from Saint Peter's, made his first five 3s during a 22-2 run midway through the first half that broke it open for Miami. Dorn’s 3-pointer with 5:54 remaining capped the surge and put the Hurricanes ahead 38-16.

Allen’s two free throws early in the second gave the Hurricanes their first 30-point lead at 61-30. Bland’s layup with 5:22 left stretched it to 83-36.

North Alabama had a scoring drought of more than eight minutes that ended with Drey Carter’s layup with 4:19 left.

Cortez Graham-Howard scored 10 points for the Lions.

It was the first meeting between the schools and a homecoming of sorts for North Alabama coach Tony Pujol, who grew up in Miami. Pujol began his coaching career at the high school level in his hometown, where he won three state championships.

North Alabama hosts Fisk on Monday.

Miami hosts Rider on Tuesday.

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Miami players including guard Acaden Lewis (55), guard Brent Bland (1), and guard Nick Dorn (3) celebrate at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against North Alabama, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami guard Dante Allen (35) drives forward defended by North Alabama guard Quan Lax (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami forward Shelton Henderson (7) jumps for a dunk over North Alabama forwards Jacobe Whitted (5) and Ansar Osman (8) and guards Quan Lax (0) and Julius Clark (23), during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami forward Shelton Henderson (7) blocks out North Alabama forward Jacobe Whitted as he drives toward the basket while North Alabama guard Quan Lax (0) and Miami guard Brent Bland look on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami guard Brent Bland (1) slaps hands with guard Dante Allen (35) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Alabama, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Brook Lopez scored 26 points and Darius Garland added 24 as the Los Angeles Clippers finished off a 113-112 victory Friday night in an NBA Cup game, sending the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder to a season-high third straight loss.

Derrick Jones Jr. and rookie Keaton Wagler had 14 points apiece, and Gradey Dick added 13 as the Clippers scored the final seven points to win for the second time in three games after opening the season with a 1-7 record.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 for the Thunder but missed a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer that would have won it.

Jared McCain had 23 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 21 points with 16 rebounds as Oklahoma City fell to 0-3 on a four-game West Coast trip. McCain finished 7 of 11 from 3-point range.

The Clippers led 57-44 at halftime behind 12 points from Lopez, while the Thunder were just 2 of 17 on 3s over the first two quarters. Oklahoma City recovered to outscore Los Angeles 40-25 in the third by going 5 of 11 from long distance.

Gilgeous-Alexander hit a leaning 3-pointer with 3:01 remaining for a 110-106 lead. The Clippers trailed 112-106 with 2:43 remaining before closing the game on a 7-0 run. Lopez scored a pair of baskets down the stretch before Garland put the Clippers ahead for good on a three-point play with 50.4 seconds left.

Without starters Chet Holmgren (knee), Jalen Williams (leg) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) since Oct. 26, the Thunder started a pair of 7-footers in Hartenstein and rookie Aday Mara for the second consecutive game and fourth time this season. Mara finished with 10 points and three blocks.

Thunder: At Sacramento on Sunday.

Clippers: Home vs. Charlotte on Sunday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain drives to the basket against Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward Isaiah Hartenstein drives to the basket against Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores a basket against Los Angeles Clippers in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives to the blast against Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Sanders in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives tot the basket against Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Sanders (4) and guard Keaton Wagler in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)wld