Tech Clobbers Morgan State, Crowd Thanks Greenberg

Virginia Tech Men's Basketball Coach Seth Greenberg notched his 300th career win as the Hokies rolled past Morgan State 94-62 Wednesday night. Greenberg alongside other donors had donated 3,000 tickets to the Virginia Tech student body to show his appreciation or the support they've given all season.
STAFF PHOTO BY BRIAN SEWELL

The Hokies dispelled any notions that they wouldn’t be ready and excited to play Wednesday night in Cassell after being left out of the NCAA tournament. Tech used its most dominant offensive game of the season, shooting 65 percent from the floor, to take care of the Morgan State Bears 94-62.

Earlier in the week, Coach Seth Greenberg donated 3,000 student tickets to show his appreciation to the student body for responding to his efforts to build a basketball culture at Virginia Tech. The result was the loudest home crowd of any game this season.

“ What an unbelievable crowd. I thought our student body and community just rallied around behind these kids,” Greenberg said. “I told [my players] before the game that this would be one of the best atmospheres they’ll play in all season.”

With under a minute left in the game, Cassell echoed with the chant “thank you Greenberg” from the crowd. Greenberg hit a milestone 300 wins after the victory.

Tech fans were also treated to quite possibly the performance of the year for the Hokies as junior A.D. Vassallo brought the rain from outside onto the court, shooting just under 80 percent in the game and perfect from the field in the second half.

Vassallo tied his season high 27 points and was just two points off his career high in just 25 minutes of playing. As the lead grew to 20, Greenberg took Vassallo out for good with 11:13 still left on the clock.

“ I know [coach] is into the game. As long as we’re winning, I really didn’t mind that much. I thought about [my career high] for a second but it’s alright,” Vassallo said. “I still have one year left and there’s plenty of time for that. As long as we keep moving on and go to New York to miss a couple days of class.”

Vassallo wore a wrap around his left hand to reduce pains was having in it as of late. Vassallo and Coach Greenberg joked that perhaps the whole team should wear them for the next game.

But the Hokie offense didn’t slow down after their All-ACC second team star went to the bench.

Senior Deron Washington had eight of the next 12 Hokie points as the lead grew as large as 33.

Washington got on a fast break and looked like he would throw down a signature dunk late in the 2nd half before guard Jerrell Green intentionally fouled him. Green was booed the rest of the game.

“ I was trying to go up and over the man because I knew he was going to try and step under me. Then I had planned to do something else but they got a steal,” Washington said.

The Cassell Guard continued into frenzy as every Hokie player on the bench saw at least two minutes of playing time.

They chanted for freshman walk-on Tom Amalfe to be put in the game.

Complete pandemonium broke out when Amalfe recorded his first game statistic of the season other than minutes when he used a spin move to score a layup with under a minute left to play.

“ That was great. We were on the sideline and wanted him to get a bucket. He had a nice move to get the basket. It was a fun environment and a fun game,” Washington said.

The Hokies advance to the second round to play UAB on Monday. UAB upset the VCU Rams on their home floor in Richmond Wednesday night to move on to the second round.