Hokies Fall to Duke in OT

Virginia Tech took #4 Duke to overtime, but ultimately fell 70-65.  The Hokies dropped to 15-14 overall and 4-10 in the ACC with two regular season games remaining.  The Blue Devils are 25-4 and 12-2 in the ACC, and as of right now they would be the #1 seed in the ACC Tournament.

It was a heartbreaking finish to regulation for the Hokies.  They led 58-57 with 40 seconds remaining and they had a chance to run a lot of clock. However, Erick Green was faced with great pressure defense from Tyler Thornton, and he picked up his dribble and was called for traveling 40 feet from the basket.

Tech fouled on Duke’s ensuing possession, and Austin Rivers made one of two free throw attempts to tie the game.  The Hokies had the ball for the final possession of the game.  Green drove the lane and took a jumper, but it was off.  Cadarian Raines had a chance for a putback basketball, but it went off the backboard and rim, and time expired, sending the game to overtime.

Duke took an early five point lead in overtime, though Tech clawed back behind a three-pointer and a deep two-pointer from Dorenzo Hudson.  With 1:19 left, they trailed by just one point, 64-63.  However, things got away from them down the stretch, and the talented, more experienced Blue Devils were able to win 70-65.

Virginia Tech was able to stay in this game against a possible #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament because the got major contributions from all five of their starters.

Erick Green: 16 points, all in the second half
Dorenzo Hudson: 16 points, including several big shots in regulation and OT, 5 rebounds
Dorian Finney-Smith: 6 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 8 offensive rebounds
Jarell Eddie: 5 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, no turnovers
Cadarian Raines: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks

Tech committed just 10 turnovers for the game, which is another big reason they were able to go wire to wire with the Blue Devils.  Unfortunately Dorian Finney-Smith struggled from the free throw line, going just 1-of-8.  Other than that, it was his best game as a Hokie.  He rebounded, he was assertive with the ball in his hands, and he did a great job of initiating the offense and getting the ball inside to Cadarian Raines.

Virginia Tech’s last three losses have come to ranked teams.  They lost to #20 Florida State 48-47 on a three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left, they lost to #25 UVA 61-59, and today they lost at #4 Duke in overtime.  That’s three losses to ranked teams by a total of eight points in the last nine days.

The Hokies are getting better, and the key for them now will be keep playing at a high level against teams that aren’t ranked.  They’ll have a great opportunity at Clemson on Thursday night.  Tip-off is scheduled for 9pm, and the game will be televised by the ACC Network.

11 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Great job Hokies in a tough loss! Hopefully, we’ll have confidence and monmentum for the remainer of this year and next! We getting better.

  2. So many close games. I really like this team and all the young guys are learning what it’s going to take to win next year. They’re close now, but wow I can’t wait to see Raines, Finney-Smith, Eddie, etc. with another year under their belt. How many games has the team lost at the foul line this year while being the #1 free throw shooting team in the ACC? It’s just not their year. I like their heart, though. They keep fighting and they’re not giving up.

    Go Hokies.

  3. Please dear Lord give us a shooter. Foul line shots were awful and 3 point shots were awful percentages. You cannot win and leave those points in the gym. I have said over and over we do not have a “pure shooter” and SG doesn’t seem to recruit one. Come on Hokie Nation join me in prayer for one “pure shooter”. I don’t even want to think what our record would be if S Curry was playing for Tech. SG let not one but two get away making you wonder if he ever had a clue about Dell Curry’s play while at Tech. He can win a national championship at Tech and I still won’t forgive him for these recruiting mistakes.

    1. Get over it! Our guys played a great game today and we should be very proud of them and of our coach!

        1. Call it whinning if you prefer. I call it facts!!!! Great teams finish and win and great coaches recruit!!

      1. Great game is in the eye of the beholder. Poor foul shooting and poor 3 point shots were awful. I hardly call that great!!

  4. Was it just me, or did anyone else see C.Raines do some picture-perfect pick & rolls, many times wide open, heading toward the basket and the guards don’t even look his way??

    1. No it’s not just you. I’ve been seeing that all season. They actually hit Raines with a bounce pass for two against Uva.

  5. Damn it I wanted this one. I got my MBA at Duke and would have spent the night lighting up Facebook. But we’re young, we’re good and I think this team is special in two years, tournament next year.

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