Hokie Comeback Falls Short Against Miami, 71-74

Miami's Jack McClinton tries to body up The Hokies' Jeff Allen Saturday. The Hokies loss to the Hurricanes notched the 2nd home loss of the season for Tech and sent them into a 2 game losing streak as they prepare for a stretch of 2 road games before returning to Cassell Coliseum.
STAFF PHOTO BY BRIAN SEWELL

The Miami Hurricanes stormed into the Cassell and handed the Hokies only their second home loss of the season Saturday afternoon.

Led by the sharp shooting of junior Jack McClinton, who was 3-4 from behind the arc in the second half, Miami grabbed their first ACC road victory of the season and sent Virginia Tech to 5-5 in league play.

While the Hokies shot 55 percent from the floor, including 63 percent in the second half, they couldn’t overcome being crushed on the boards by 15.

Miami scored 13 points off of second chance opportunities (some of them third and fourth chances) compared to Tech’s two.

“When you make five more field goals than your opponent, you would think that you would have a pretty good chance to win the basketball game,” said Coach Seth Greenberg.

The fans seemed more passionate than usual in their disagreement with the referees—the boo's reaching such a pitch that a bottle of water on the media desk was clearly vibrating.

More than once Greenberg had a heated exchange with the referees.

“We got Jeff (Allen) isolated on the block and one ref called a foul one ref called a travel, I don’t know why the guy at half court overrides the foul,” said Greenberg.

He also made reference to a key play with 59 seconds left. While down four points Tech forced Miami into getting a 10 second half court violation. However, the original call was overturned, one second was added back to the shot clock, and Miami was granted a timeout.

McClinton hit two free throws on that possession to extend their lead to six.

Despite a late flurry of jump shots and threes by A.D. Vassallo, who finished with a game high 24 points, the Hokies last minute comeback fell short when senior Deron Washington missed a leaning three pointer with one second left on the clock.

The Hokies two game-losing skid doesn’t come at a good time as the next two games are on the road against the ACC’s second and third place teams—North Carolina and Maryland.

With only three home games left in the season, the players know they need to grab a road victory to stay above .500 at the end of the season.

“It’s real important. It was important before but now with the home loss, we’ve got to get another one on the road,” said freshman J.T. Thompson.

Greenberg remains consistent with his philosophy that his team will continue to play hard and their success will be evaluated at the end of the year. Greenberg had some sarcastic remarks to one reporter that continued to ask him questions inferring that a four game losing streak was on the way.

“Wow, I’m going to jump off the top of Cassell tomorrow. My wife better keep sharp objects away from me,” said Greenberg. “I didn’t know you could predict the future…you should go to Las Vegas.”