Final Score: Miami-Florida 66, Valparaiso 50

Coral Gables, FL (Sports Network) - Rion Brown scored 18 points as Miami defeated Valparaiso, 66-50, in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament at BankUnited Center.

Also scoring in double figures for the second-seeded Hurricanes (20-12) were Shane Larkin and Trey McKinney Jones with 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Reggie Johnson came up a point shy of a double-double as he cleared a game-high 11 rebounds.

The seventh-seeded Crusaders (22-12) were paced by Ryan Broekhoff who tallied 18 points and cleared seven rebounds, while Richie Edwards tacked on 16 points off the bench for the visitors. Kevin Van Wijk contributed with 10 rebounds in the setback.

Valpo led by a basket within the first minute of action, but the team finished the period with just nine total field goals in the period, resulting in a 24-23 deficit at the break for the Crusaders.

In the second half Miami blew the game open with 54.8 percent accuracy from the floor and 6-of-11 behind the three-point line in picking up the 16-point triumph.

Valparaiso was held to just 35.8 percent shooting from the floor overall and 5-of-27 out on the perimeter.

Miami is now onto the second round of the tournament where it will clash with sixth-seeded Minnesota which scored a minor upset over La Salle (70-61) in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

03/14 23:41:07 ET