Collegiate Times

Dorenzo Hudson hit a three-pointer at the buzzer on Saturday afternoon to give the Virginia Tech Hokies a 74-73 overtime victory over Georgia Tech.

"It ranks No. 1 for me right now," Hudson said of the game-winner. "I just stayed in the moment, and I just had my chance to make a shot and it went down. 

It was just Hudson’s second made field goal of the night, but it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Hokies (15-12, 4-8 ACC).

“I thought it was good (when he shot it),” said freshman guard Robert Brown, who finished with 10 points. “Dorenzo’s a really clutch player. He’s a veteran. He’s been through these types of game before.”

After Georgia Tech’s Mfon Udofia got a shot in heavy traffic to fall with 5.3 seconds left to give the Yellow Jackets a 73-71 lead, Virginia Tech got the ball up the court and called timeout with 3.5 seconds remaining.

Hudson inbounded the ball to Jarrell Eddie, who got trapped in the corner, but managed to get it back out to Hudson with just enough time for the fifth-year senior to hurl up a prayer.

"That was a heck of a win for our guys to come back after the devastation of the Florida State situation, and to come back and show the resiliency to figure out a way to win," said Seth Greenberg, head coach. 

The Hokies, who were without starting senior forward Victor Davila, were incredibly outmatched down low, as Georgia Tech outscored them 36-18 in the paint, and 32-18 on the glass. But, the team only turned the ball over five times, to the Yellow Jackets' 14.

"The game was won because we only made five turnovers," Greenberg said. "We took care of the basketball."

Kammeon Holsey dominated inside all night, as he led all scorers with 18 points. The 6’8” sophomore also finished with five rebounds and shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

However, despite Davila’s absence and Holsey’s performance, Hokie big men Cadarian Raines and C.J. Barksdale — who sat out Thursday night’s game against Florida State with an ankle injury — both had several clutch moments during the game.

“CJ played fantastic coming off the injury,” Brown said. “For him to come in and battle through that and fight and rebound and give us those buckets that he gave us was incredible.

“Cadarian, from start to finish, was in there battling. He's one of the better post people in the league, I think. He's very underrated. He has excellent post moves."

The Hokies had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but Erick Green’s jumper hit off the front of the rim to keep the score tied at 65.

Green, who led the team with 14 points and four assists, recorded his 28th straight game with double-digit scoring.

Virginia Tech also had a much-improved performance at the free throw line after a 3-10 output down the stretch on Thursday against FSU cost them the game. The team was 15-19 on the afternoon.

The Hokies also got a heavy lift off the bench, as Brown, Barksdale and Marquis Rankin combined to score 24 points to the Yellow Jackets’ nine.

The team will retake the floor in Cassell Coliseum on Tuesday night as they play host to rival Virginia. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m.

A version of this article appeared in the Feb 19 issue of the Collegiate Times.