[caption id="attachment_5731" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
The Hokies got the job done with a 66-61 win over #25 Miami. [Credit: Harley Taylor][/caption]It’s been a long time since Virginia Tech has been in tournament discussion. The last time they made the NCAA tournament, the #1 song in the country was What Goes Around by Justin Timberlake. George W. Bush was our president. The Time Person of the Year was Vladimir Putin.
That all changed on Monday night.
With their win against #25 Miami in Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies shut down that discussion, and locked themselves into the field of 68. In a tight game, Virginia Tech took down the Hurricanes, 66-61
The game started with the Hokies continuing their hot shooting streak, jumping out to a 10-1 lead, fueled by a couple three pointers by Hill and Bibbs, and complimented by a couple layups by Sy.
The offensive production declined in a major way, however, as the half progressed, as the Hokies committed eight turnovers. Amazingly, Virginia Tech stepped it up defensively, holding the Hurricanes to only 39% from the field. In fact, Miami attempted eight more shots than the Hokies but still trailed at the half, as the Hokies went into the locker rooms, up 27-26.
https://twitter.com/techlunchpaild/status/836406108944203776
In the 2nd half, it was a back and forth affair. Miami was able to take the lead for the first time with 15 minutes left in the game at the 15:45 mark. After that, the lead changed hands a couple times before the Hokies went on a run to open their lead to 45-38. Miami responded with their own 7-0 run to tie the game at 45. The lead never got larger than 5 for the rest of the game, with the Hokies grabbing the lead for good with 4:25 left in the game.
The main story of the game was Ty Outlaw, who set the record for most threes made in a game for a Virginia Tech player at 8. He tied the record with 13 minutes left, but didn’t break it until there was 2:55 remaining. Without his breakout performance, this game would’ve been much different. Besides his 24 points, the Hokies only had one other player in double figures as Seth Allen contributed 12 points. After Allen, the next leader scorer was Ahmed Hill and Zach LeDay with seven points. It was a lackluster offensive output in general for the Hokies, but the record performance from Outlaw saved the day.
https://twitter.com/techlunchpaild/status/836434568962002944
With this win, the Hokies clinched a first round bye in the ACC Tournament. They will have an opportunity to be the 5 seed if they win against Wake Forest, Duke loses one of their final two games, and Miami loses to Florida State.
Additionally, the Hokies will be going for a record on Saturday. They will be attempting to be the first Hokies basketball team ever to win 11 conference games. It speaks volumes at the heart and fight of this team to be on that threshold after everything they’ve had to deal with this season.
Stat Leaders
Points – Ty Outlaw with 24
Assists – Seth Allen and Justin Robinson with 4
Rebounds – Zach LeDay with 7
What Next?
Virginia Tech plays a Wake Forest team that will be playing to get off the bubble on Saturday afternoon. It’s senior night for Seth Allen and Zach LeDay, and they’ll be honored post-game. The game will tip at 4:30 PM and be televised on regional TV networks.
The Hokies got the job done with a 66-61 win over #25 Miami. [Credit: Harley Taylor][/caption]It’s been a long time since Virginia Tech has been in tournament discussion. The last time they made the NCAA tournament, the #1 song in the country was What Goes Around by Justin Timberlake. George W. Bush was our president. The Time Person of the Year was Vladimir Putin.
That all changed on Monday night.
With their win against #25 Miami in Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies shut down that discussion, and locked themselves into the field of 68. In a tight game, Virginia Tech took down the Hurricanes, 66-61
The game started with the Hokies continuing their hot shooting streak, jumping out to a 10-1 lead, fueled by a couple three pointers by Hill and Bibbs, and complimented by a couple layups by Sy.
The offensive production declined in a major way, however, as the half progressed, as the Hokies committed eight turnovers. Amazingly, Virginia Tech stepped it up defensively, holding the Hurricanes to only 39% from the field. In fact, Miami attempted eight more shots than the Hokies but still trailed at the half, as the Hokies went into the locker rooms, up 27-26.
https://twitter.com/techlunchpaild/status/836406108944203776
In the 2nd half, it was a back and forth affair. Miami was able to take the lead for the first time with 15 minutes left in the game at the 15:45 mark. After that, the lead changed hands a couple times before the Hokies went on a run to open their lead to 45-38. Miami responded with their own 7-0 run to tie the game at 45. The lead never got larger than 5 for the rest of the game, with the Hokies grabbing the lead for good with 4:25 left in the game.
The main story of the game was Ty Outlaw, who set the record for most threes made in a game for a Virginia Tech player at 8. He tied the record with 13 minutes left, but didn’t break it until there was 2:55 remaining. Without his breakout performance, this game would’ve been much different. Besides his 24 points, the Hokies only had one other player in double figures as Seth Allen contributed 12 points. After Allen, the next leader scorer was Ahmed Hill and Zach LeDay with seven points. It was a lackluster offensive output in general for the Hokies, but the record performance from Outlaw saved the day.
https://twitter.com/techlunchpaild/status/836434568962002944
With this win, the Hokies clinched a first round bye in the ACC Tournament. They will have an opportunity to be the 5 seed if they win against Wake Forest, Duke loses one of their final two games, and Miami loses to Florida State.
Additionally, the Hokies will be going for a record on Saturday. They will be attempting to be the first Hokies basketball team ever to win 11 conference games. It speaks volumes at the heart and fight of this team to be on that threshold after everything they’ve had to deal with this season.
Stat Leaders
Points – Ty Outlaw with 24
Assists – Seth Allen and Justin Robinson with 4
Rebounds – Zach LeDay with 7
What Next?
Virginia Tech plays a Wake Forest team that will be playing to get off the bubble on Saturday afternoon. It’s senior night for Seth Allen and Zach LeDay, and they’ll be honored post-game. The game will tip at 4:30 PM and be televised on regional TV networks.
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