Hokies upset by Radford

Virginia Tech came back from a double-digit deficit, but then coughed up a six-point lead with 2:27 remaining and lost to Radford 68-66 at home on Sunday afternoon.  The Hokies fell to 4-4 on the season, while the Highlanders improved to 5-3.

After jumping out to a 5-0 lead, Radford went on a 13-0 run and eventually took a 39-30 lead into halftime.  The Highlanders were getting more open looks, and seemed to come away with most 50-50 balls.

“We just didn’t have energy coming out of the gate,” freshman forward Justin Bibbs said after the game.  “We just didn’t come out intense and focused.”

Radford had a big game from behind the three-point line, going 9-of-22.  RJ Price was 5-of-13.

“We didn’t play hard enough to make them miss shots,” Bibbs said.

His fellow freshman teammate Ahmed Hill agreed.

“We came out kind of flat…lackadaisical,” Hill said.

Despite the bad start, Tech rallied to take a 66-60 lead with 3:13 remaining.  On Radford’s next possession, they missed two shots, but were able to grab two offensive rebounds.  They were able to get to the free throw line and make two shots, which sparked the comeback.

The comeback was most certainly helped by Virginia Tech.  Justin Bibbs missed the front end of a one-and-one, and later Devin Wilson was stripped at halfcourt with the Hokies leading 66-65 with 30 seconds left.  The turnover led to a breakaway layup that put the Highlanders up 67-66.

Nevertheless, the Hokies had the ball for the final shot.  After Radford added a free throw to go up by two, Tech got the ball into the corner to Justin Bibbs for a three-pointer.  Bibbs is a 64% three-point shooter for the season, but unfortunately the shot was no good.  Neither team was able to come away with the loose ball, which eventually bounced back to midcourt, and the final horn sounded.

The Hokies return to action next Sunday at 3pm when they host Alabama A&M.  Tipoff is scheduled for 3pm, and the game can be seen online on ESPN3.

Box Score

10 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Devin Wilson stripped at half court up 1 with 30 seconds left. I was at the Penn State game and there were a couple plays I remember where he lost the ball just dribbling and just looked really awkward handling the basketball in general. I know he’s one of our more decent players with some experience (even though he’s only a sophomore), and I don’t know his overall stats or anything but man….as our starting pg, he just doesn’t seem to pass the eye test. I’m not trying to pick on him or anything because he makes some great passes and plays his butt off. But he can’t shoot even from 12 feet out, is a terrible free throw shooter and just doesn’t seem comfortable handling the rock. I know we have far bigger issues, but when I read about the turnover it just reinforced what I was thinking after the Penn State game. Now I understand why the pg recruit Justin Robinson(?) was the first priority for Buzz. Because from what I saw from Mueller…. well it just didn’t look good. At all.

  2. Yep, it certainly does seem shocking that RADFORD could compete with Tech in any sport, BUT we all knew that the b-ball program was bottoming out. This is what it looks like. It will get better next year. Have faith and some patience. In Buzz we trust.

  3. Pathetic if you ask me. Seems that has been my word for most the football season and now it is carrying over into bb season. Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. I guess it’s “player speak”, but I HATE the “we came out flat”. That’s garbage and should NEVER happen. Duke doesn’t do it, I rarely see Louisville do it.

    At some point, it comes down to having experienced leaders who hold teammates accountable for effort, and we haven’t had that since Zabe, Jamon & Co in 2007.

    You prepare all offseason for a limited number of games. Why would you EVER approach one of your actual games by “coming out lackadaisical”?

    1. So you’re 100% charged up all day every day? Doubt it. Just like I doubt you have any real knowledge of the leadership of this team. Every team stumbles and falls. Just ask Michigan.

      1. They don’t need to be 100% charged up all day every day. Just 2.2 hours or so for 30 days a year.

        To support the intent, if not the extreme example, of your viewpoint, for whatever reason, in a 30 game season, a team WILL come out flat at least 2 times. Even the top programs in the country.

        I was more disappointed in the horrible handling of the press at the 30 ish second mark.

      2. And this isn’t the only game it looks like they were slack. The Appy game was the same.

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