Collegiate Times

The Virginia Tech basketball team opened its three-game home stand Saturday with its second-straight victory — 92-84 over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

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The win brings the Hokies to 7-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference play and 16-11 on the season. It also guarantees Virginia Tech a winning season and strong consideration for a postseason tournament invitation.

The Hokies once again didn't start a game off as well as they would've liked. Less than four minutes into the game the Hokies trailed 10-2, had committed five turnovers and were held scoreless from the field.

An Anthony Morrow steal and breakaway slam dunk prompted Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg to burn his first timeout with 16:02 remaining in the first half.

A Maurice Miller fast-break layup capped a 10-0 Yellow Jacket run that left Georgia Tech with a double-digit lead less than six minutes into the ballgame.

Hurting the Virginia Tech cause early was the absence of freshman forward Jeff Allen, who went to the bench at the 16:37 mark after picking up his second foul in less than 30 seconds.

While the Hokies were unable to do much with Allen, they got things going in his absence. Two Lewis Witcher layups sparked an 8-0 Hokie run that cut the lead to only two points.

Cheick Diakite became the second Hokie post player to pick up his second personal foul at the 11:05 mark. Morrow picked up his second personal foul just over 30 seconds later and exited the game. Diakite picked up his third personal at the 9:47 mark and subsequently made his exit.

The Hokies, finding themselves down eight points, went on a 12-0 run, which enabled them to take their first lead of the afternoon. The run was highlighted by rainmakers in transition by A.D. Vassallo and Malcolm Delaney, whose three-pointer gave the Hokies a 24-22 lead.

Yellow Jacket Matt Causey then became another player to get himself into some foul trouble. He picked up his second with 6:09 remaining in the first half. Morrow returned to the game to pick up his third personal foul with 4:30 remaining.

The Hokies opened up an eight-lead, but a 4-0 run by the Yellow Jackets to close half brought the score to 42-38 heading into the halftime intermission.

The half saw 31 total personal fouls, the Hokies out-rebound the Yellow Jackets 25-17 and go 18-24 from the free-throw line

The officiating remained to the displeasure of the Cassell Coliseum crowd in the second half. The two teams kept the game to a two possession affair until a Hank Thorns three-pointer late in the shot clock gave the Hokies their largest lead of the game, at that point - nine points with 10:26 remaining.

Continuing the foul trouble storyline was Yellow Jacket Jeremis Smith who went to the bench with his fourth personal with 8:19 remaining.

The Yellow Jackets worked the Virginia Tech lead down to three points, but a 10-1 Hokie run would give Tech a 80-68 lead with under four minutes remaining in the game - the 12-point lead was their largest of the game and put the game out of the reach of the Yellow Jackets.

Interestingly, there were 60 total fouls called during the game and 83 free-throws attempted. The first player didn't foul out until Alade Aminu committed his fifth personal with 2:03 remaining in what was the 52 foul called.

The Hokies return to the hardwood, looking to add to their winning streak, Tuesday evening against the Boston College Eagles in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech won the first meeting of the season 81-73 in overtime in Chestnut Hill. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off and will be televised by ESPNU.

NOTES:

Vassallo finished with a season high 27 points.

Matt Causey scored only 2 points.

The Hokies scored a season-high in points.