Virginia Tech overcame a 2-point halftime deficit to blow out Boston College 91-75 in Chestnut Hill on Saturday afternoon. The Hokies improved to 20-8 overall and 9-7 in the ACC with the win, while the Eagles dropped to 9-20 overall and 2-14 in conference play. Tech has now won four of its last five games, with two wins coming on the road.
This is Virginia Tech’s second consecutive 20-win season under Buzz Williams. Last year the Hokies reached the 20-win mark with a victory in the opening round of the NIT, but this year they achieved that number with two games remaining in the regular season. The Hokies are tied with Syracuse and UVA for seventh place in the ACC with a 9-7 record, and they went 2-1 against those two programs this year.
Virginia Tech committed an uncharacteristic 19 turnovers, which led to 24 Boston College points. Normally that would lead to a loss on the road, but not with the way the Hokies shot the basketball on Saturday. For the game, Tech was 31-of-46 (67.4%) from the field, 12-of-18 (66.7%) from three-point range, and 17-of-20 (80%) from the free throw line.
It was Tech’s second half numbers that really blew BC out of the Conte Forum. Over the final 20 minutes, the Hokies shot 18-of-24 (75%) from the field, 7-of-8 (87.5%) from three-point range, and a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. They outscored the Eagles 53-35 in the second half, and it would have been worse, except Boston College hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. Tech had 18 assists on 31 made baskets for the game.
Sophomore point guard Justin Robinson tied his career-high of eight assists in Tuesday’s win over Clemson. He broke that mark on Saturday with a 13-point, 11-assist performance against the Eagles. Seth Allen, who is one of many people in Blacksburg who has battled an illness over the last two weeks, had a whopping eight turnovers, including five in the first half. However, he also finished with 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Zach LeDay led the way with 18 points, and he also pulled down seven rebounds. Ty Outlaw continued his streak of excellent offensive play, scoring 16 points. He was a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range, and he’s 12-of-16 (75%) from the outside over his last three games. Justin Bibbs finished with 13 points and surpassed the 1,000 point mark for his career, while Ahmed Hill added 12.
Boston College did lead for 3:30 of the 40 minutes, while the game was tied for 4:16. However, Tech’s talent level stood out in the second half, as the Hokies bombarded the Eagles with a dominant offensive attack for which the home team had no answer. Not that Boston College is any different than the previous two teams Tech played. Check out these Virginia Tech shooting numbers from the last three games…
at Louisville: 29-of-49 (59.2%) FG, 17-of-26 (65.4%) 3-Pt., 15-of-19 (78.9%) FT
vs. Clemson: 26-of-53 (49.1%) FG, 12-of-22 (54.5%) 3-Pt., 7-of-8 (87.5%) FT
at BC: 31-of-46 (67.4%) FG, 12-of-18 (66.7%) 3-Pt., 17-of-20 (80%) FT
Total: 86-of-148 (58.1%) FG, 41-of-66 (62.1%) 3-Pt., 39-of-47 (83%) FT
Those numbers are unreal. Even the best teams in the country don’t shoot that well over a three-game stretch. The Hokies came into the game #33 nationally in offensive efficiency and #11 in effective field goal percentage (out of 351 Division I teams), and those numbers will only go up after today’s game.
The Hokies also got a boost from Michigan, who downed Purdue on Saturday. The Wolverines jumped up to #45 in the RPI with that win, and if that Top 50 ranking holds up through Selection Sunday it would give VT another quality win.
Virginia Tech returns to action on Monday when they host Miami, who is coming off back-to-back wins over UVA and Duke, and could be in the Top 25 when the next polls are released. Tipoff is scheduled for 9pm, and the game will be televised by ESPN2.
Monday night is a White Effect game.
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We’ll need to keep up the torrid shooting, and cut the TO’s in half, in order to beat Miami Monday night. Go Hokies!
Ty Outlaw seems to be getting in basketball shape now. Expect big things from him in the future as well.
These guys can shoot. Best shooting Tech team ever? Treys, inside the arc, and free throws. Wow!
Congrats to Hokies for another strong performance other than turnovers! Continue to be impressed with toughness and no quit attitude for this team. Let’s hope we can win remaining 2 games and get a win or 2 in the ACC tourney! I think one more win gets us in the NCAA which would be impressive given Clarke is gone until next year! Already getting excited for next season with Blackshear returning!
Go Hokies!
We’re in the NCAA now. They’re just aren’t enough decent bubble teams for us to be left out. If we win our next two and one in the ACC tourney we could be looking at a 6 seed.