In a game that featured 19 ties, 15 lead changes, two overtime periods and a three hour delay due to a broken water main, the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team fell just short to the Maryland Terrapins Saturday night, 104-100.
“It was a heck of a game,” said Tech head coach Seth Greenberg. “It was like a prize fight with punches and counterpunches and teams getting knocked down and getting back up. I can’t fault our kids in any way, shape or form. They couldn’t have played any harder. They couldn’t have been any more resilient. They did a lot of really good things.”
With 15 seconds left in double overtime, Tech was down 100-102 after a missed free throw by Terrapins senior guard Eric Hayes.
After Tech forward Jeff Allen grabbed the rebound, junior guard Malcolm Delaney pushed the ball up court but was forced to pass to freshman Erick Green who missed a three-point attempt with three seconds remaining to seal the game for Maryland.
Despite the miss, Greenberg was happy with the shot by the freshman.
“We wanted to make a play going to the basket, so they stopped the ball,” Greenberg said. “So, you gotta make the right play. He made the right play. Erick had room and rhythm. Erick makes that shot. He makes that shot in practice.”
“He was open,” Delaney said. “We didn’t have options. We didn’t draw a play up. We just went with it.”
Still, Tech had key chances at the free throw line in the second overtime period to win the game. Down 95-97 with 39 seconds left, Delaney missed two free throws which could have tied the game after making his first eight in a row.
“I just missed,” Delaney said.
“He’s human,” Greenberg said. “This isn’t like the Iron Mike that throws pitches in baseball. He’s human. He’s the same guy that got the ball up the court in five seconds and laid it in to extend the game. I thought the guy was really good today.”
Maryland head coach Gary Williams agreed.
“Delaney - if there’s a better guard out there, I don’t know who it is,” Williams said. “He doesn’t get the credit that he deserves for what he’s done for Virginia Tech.”
Even with the loss, Tech played an excellent game and received significant contributions from the five juniors that continue to excel as the season goes on. Delaney led the team with 27 points, Allen picked up 25, Hudson scored 21, JT Thompson contributed 15 and Terrell Bell ended up with 10 points as well.
Prior to the eventual ending, the game featured high drama to end regulation as well as the first overtime.
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As a Maryland fan, I want to thank the Hokies or Chokies for taunting Greivis Vasquez during that game, how did that 41 feel?
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Hey Seth, unless you make a run to the final game of the ACC tourney and win...Kiss the NCAA tourney goodbye!!
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My question is why didn't they take a time out and hand Delaney the ball those last few seconds? Were we out of timeouts? He's the guy you want taking the last shot of the game if it comes down to that, not Erick Green. Not that it probably would have mattered anyway.
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Sheesh, ethnic chants at Vasquez from our Hokies?
Stay classy, VT.
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What ethnic chants are you referring to?
The USA chants while he was at the FT line that Vasquez even laughed about?
Get off your high horse and spell your name correct 'Erik'
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erik - learn to spell your name right. you obviously suffer from a generalized absence of skill that extends to your ability to spell.
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