Hokies Hold Off Seminoles 89-80, Continue To Climb ACC Ladder (Video Included)

Virginia Tech's J.T. Thompson scores another one for the Hokies in their game against Florida State Tuesday night.
STAFF PHOTO BY BRIAN SEWELL

Virginia Tech used a dominating first half Tuesday night against Florida State to seal a key ACC victory at home in Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies shot 61 percent in the first half, led by junior A.D. Vassallo who scored 15 points and finished the game with 22. Their defense also held FSU to its second lowest scoring first half of the season as they headed into the locker room with the score at 42-24.

With the win, the Hokies move to fourth place in the ACC with a 4-3 league record. With a Boston College loss against North Carolina on Thursday, the Hokies would actually move into third.

“I think it shocks everyone else more than us,” said freshman Malcolm Delaney, who scored 13 points. “We’ve never looked as youth as being a factor. We can beat anybody in the ACC, we’re looking to be over .500 in the league.”

Despite leading by 17 with just over six minutes left to play and by 10 with just under two minutes left to play, the Hokies gave their fans a bit of a scare as Florida State attempted to drag out the final minutes in hopes of a comeback.

Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton used mass substitutions with each change of possession to keep his offensive players from not fouling out. Each time the Hokies went to inbound the ball, a group of bench players would come in with the sole purpose of getting a quick foul and sending the Hokies to the line.

“I just kept on looking up at the clock,” Vassallo said. “It seemed like every second we’d make only one free throw and they’d hit a shot, it was crazy. I was just relieved we actually got the win.”

The Seminoles were able to shrink Tech’s lead to just five points with 47 seconds left. The fans were not happy with the Florida State strategy, especially after Vassallo was tackled on one inbounding play that resulted in an intentional foul.

As the Hokies wrapped the game up, the student section mocked the Seminoles with a goodbye tomahawk chant.

“We weren’t perfect from the line down the stretch but we definitely made some key free throws to keep the distance so they couldn’t get back in the game,” freshman guard Hank Thorns said.

Freshman J.T. Thompson contributed another solid effort, even with Jeff Allen returning to the lineup after a two-game suspension. Thompson played 28 minutes while scoring 11 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.

The Hokies host rival Virginia on Saturday at 1 p.m. Coach Seth Greenberg realizes the importance of another ACC home victory.

“If you celebrate the past in this league, the future will absolutely suffocate you,” Greenberg said. “The next game gives us a chance at home to win another game and create some separation. When you get into February, every game you can win helps.”

Game Leaders


Scoring: VT- Vassallo 22, FSU- Rich 22
Rebounds: VT-Washington 10, FSU-Echefu
Assists: VT- Thorns, Delaney, Washington 3, FSU-Douglas 6
Steals: VT- Washington,Vassallo,Delaney,Allen-2, FSU-Douglas 3
Blocks: VT- Witcher 2, FSU-Douglas 3

Video by Neal Turnage and Tyler Murphy