Hokies Beat Jackets at the Buzzer

Dorenzo Hudson hit a right wing three-pointer at the buzzer as Virginia Tech downed Georgia Tech 74-73 in overtime on Saturday afternoon.  The Hokies are now 15-12 overall, with a 4-8 mark in ACC play.  Georgia Tech dropped to 9-17 and 2-10 in the conference.

Dorenzo Hudson was well-defended on this play but hit the game winner at the buzzer.

Hudson’s dramatic game-winner came just two days after the Hokies were beaten at the end of the game in Tallahassee.  Mfon Udofia’s off balance shot in the lane gave Georgia Tech a 73-71 lead with just 5.4 seconds remaining, and it seemed as if Thursday night was repeating itself until Hudson’s heroics.  Hudson had just five points in the game and was barely mentioned by the announcers until his clutch shot in front of the VT bench.

The Hokies called timeout with 3.5 seconds left and inbounded the ball from in front of their bench. Hudson passed the ball in to Jarell Eddie, who was double-teamed and almost lost the ball. Eddie managed to get the ball to Hudson just a few feet away on the right wing, and Hudson drained the open three-pointer at the buzzer for the win.

This was one of Virginia Tech’s best offensive performances of the year, as well as one of their worst defensive performances.  Georgia Tech shot well over 50% from the field and over 50% from three-point range, despite suspending leading scorer Glen Rice, Jr. before the game.  The Hokies were missing Victor Davila again, but C.J. Barksdale returned and contributed eight points and four rebounds in 20 minutes while playing on a sprained ankle.

It was the outside shot that won this game for the Hokies.  They got numerous good looks against a Georgia Tech defense that ranked dead last in ACC play in three-point field goal percentage defense.  The Hokies went 11-of-20 from three-point range, and they came back from a rough night at the charity stripe against Florida State to go 15-of-19 from the line against the Yellow Jackets.

Despite being shorthanded, all eight of Virginia Tech’s players made major contributions.

  • Erick Green: 14 points, four assists, two three-pointers
  • Cadarian Raines: 13 points in 37 minutes
  • Jarell Eddie: 12 points, four assists, two three-pointers, 6-of-6 from the free throw line
  • Robert Brown: 10 points, two three-pointers
  • Marquis Rankin: 6 points, two three-pointers
  • C.J. Barksdale: 8 points, 4 rebounds
  • Dorian Finney-Smith: 6 points, two three-pointers
  • Dorenzo Hudson: game-winning three-pointer

This was a team win in every sense of the phrase, despite the fact that the Hokies couldn’t keep Georgia Tech out of the lane or away from the rim the entire game.  Seth Greenberg is going to be happy about the win, but you can bet he’ll get his players some extra defensive work before Tuesday night’s game with UVA.

The Hokies have had a dramatic week of basketball.  Last Sunday night they beat Boston College on a last second tip-in by Dorian Finney-Smith, on Thursday they lost at the last second, and today they beat Georgia Tech on a buzzer beating three-pointer in overtime.

Virginia Tech returns to action on Tuesday night, when they try to upset UVA for the second time this season.  Tip-off is scheduled for 9pm from Cassell Coliseum, and the game will be televised by ESPNU.

Box Score

18 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Wow….we can’t even enjoy a win without haters dumping on it. Tech fans are getting worse and worse. Disgraceful

    Just watching Raines last night I see one more piece that we should have had last year. Assume Cheaney would have been equal or better…..that team was tournament team without question….then all of the haters would have nothing to cry about.

    I see the glass half full for this team….Rankin will make Green a better player. DFS is getting more confidence and getting better …..we have the best FT shooting team since Seth got here….always our achilles heel ……and we have multiple players who can hit threes for the first time in the Seth era.

    I think they are close….real close….need an inside presence and we’ll have a solid program.

    1. I’m starting to get to be more of a glass-half-full guy. I think all the pieces are there, and just a little more seasoning is needed. Erick Green will only get better. Marquis Rankin will improve — and I’m really glad he’s getting a lot of playing time now. Robert Brown will improve. Barksdale and Raines are a solid inside duo that will improve with playing time. DFS is finally getting more confidence and just needs 15 pounds (or more) of muscle. Defense needs to get better, particularly at the 4 spot.

      Yesterday’s game is evidence that this team CAN play better offensively than what we’ve seen, although I doubt Seth’s preference for the dribble-drive offense will go away any time soon, so there will continue to be lots of dribbling and standing around on offense. 🙂 That part of the equation “is what it is.”

    2. Well said!!! I completely agree! Greenberg ressurected a dead program into something. We are on the breaking point of greatness

  2. This could easily have been a loss on the home court to a bad team without Glenn Rice. Let’s not get too excited.

    1. Yeah. Let’s not get excited about our alma mater doing well. Let’s continue to whine and whine. Let’s not let anyone enjoy a win by their favorite team.

  3. SG needs to use the film to show how to block out and rebound with 2 hands and a firm grip (what a concept!). GT does it very weel, VT very poorly this year and every year! Why?

    1. LOL! Do you seriously not know that we were playing AGAIN with only two post players, one of whom had a sprained ankle (so he was only in for 20 mins)?!?

      It is so sad that people have no concept of reality.

    2. SG is the best Basketball coach that VT has had since I can remember. He will do what is best for our team. Way to Hokies. Keep up the effort and good things happen.

      1. Uhh, no. But thanks for playing. Very few good things have ever happened for Seth’s teams – he just doesn’t have that “it” that winners have.

Comments are closed.