Allen Brings A-Game As Tech Notches Win (Video Included)
By David CooperVideo by Ryan Call
December 14, 2008
Prior to tip-off, a Longwood basketball fan was spotted wearing a sweatshirt that said. "You can't handle the Longwood." Clearly, the Virginia Tech Hokies were able to handle the Longwood Lancers with ease, winning 79-57.
Though the first half was slow for both teams, the pace picked up, and the Hokies buckled down.
Virginia Tech dominated Longwood statistically, but the Hokies struggled to pull away early, leaving a close margin of 18-16 with eight minutes left in the first half.
However, with Malcolm Delaney setting the offense, and forcing Longwood to foul, the Hokies eventually went on a 19-5 run to end the half, and go into the locker room with a 37-21 lead.
Big man Jeff Allen was a force inside, accumulating 15 points, 10 rebounds (7 defensive), and a block in 18 minutes of first-half action.
In the second half, however, the Hokies lost most of the momentum they had going into the locker room. Longwood lingered around within a 12-15 point deficit, and as one team scored, the other answered immediately.
The Lancers rallied from behind and eventually closed the gap to five.
While their early capability to make shots was one of the factors that kept Longwood in the contest, the other was capitalizing on turnovers. The Hokies committed 13 turnovers in the first half, and six early in the second half.
"We just weren't strong with the ball. We were soft. They made their run because we helped them make their run. It was just pure immaturity. We weren't as tough as we needed to be, but it's all correctable," said head coach Seth Greenberg.
However, the offense buckled down, and A.D. Vassallo made sure the gap would not narrow any further, as he drained two free throws, then on the next possession scored a three to push the lead to 11, and from there, the defense took over.
With the score 61-50 at seven minutes left in the half, the Hokies did not relinquish another point until there was 2:45 left on the clock.
Hank Thorns, Terrell Bell, and Allen provided the offense, helping Virginia Tech put the game away.
Defensively, the Hokies limited the Lancers' ability to make shots late in the game and pulled in 37 defensive rebounds on the night.
Next, Virginia Tech faces Columbia University to kick off the Aéropostale Holiday Festival on Saturday, Dec. 20.
NOTABLES:
LONGWOOD
• Dana Smith- 13 points, 4 rebounds, 5 steals
• Antawn Carter- 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
• Ryan Bogan- 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals
VIRGINIA TECH
• Jeff Allen- 19 points, 21 rebounds, 3 blocks
• A.D. Vassallo- 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3-4 3-point shooting
• Terrell Bell- 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3-4 3-point shooting
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