Hokies Blow Out Canes Early (Video Included)

By Brian Bartley

"For the first 15-18 minutes, we were the best defensively that we've been," Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg said of his squad's early blowout. 

In the first half, the Hokies held Miami to an abysmal 27 percent from the floor, allowed no double-digit scorers and out-rebounded the Canes 23-13.

In addition to their menacing first half defense, the Hokies also displayed some offense by shooting 62 percent from the floor and hitting seven of their first nine three point attempts.  

An unlikely offensive contributor came in the form of Terrell Bell, who led all first half scorers with 13.  Bell connected on all three of his three-point attempts in the half, including one that gave the Hokies their largest lead of 35 points with just over 2:00 left.

"Lately I've been focusing a lot more on my shot and it fell for me today," Bell said.

While Bell carried the scoring load for the Hokies in the first half, Malcolm Delaney took control in the second half.  Delaney chipped in 16 points during the final frame, giving him a game-high 28 points.

For the second straight game, Delaney attempted 14+ free throws.

"He knows how to get to the free throw line, he's very good at that" Miami head coach Frank Haith said of Delaney's 16 free throw attempts.  Haith also likened Delaney's ability to draw fouls to former Hurricane great, Jack McClinton.  

Hokie forward Jeff Allen had one of his best games of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.  

"We came out excited,"  Allen said.  "We just moved the ball around and got good shots."

The win over the Hurricanes gives the Hokies their first win over an AP top-25 team this season--a big accomplishment for a Tech squad many feel have benefitted from an unusually weak schedule.

"We got a big top-25 win," Delaney said of the Hokies' victory.  "It's going to look good on our resume." 

"We can play with anybody in the country, and beat anybody in the country," Delaney said.

The Hurricanes did show some fight in the second half.  James Dews and Malcolm Grant each knocked down some big shots to edge the Hurricanes back to just a 14 point deficit with under 5:00 to play.  

Though Greenberg wasn't thrilled with the Cane's resurgence in the second half, he was willing to offer some explanation.

"It's probably my fault," Greenberg said.  "I probably should have got our guys to attack more [in the second half]."

Bell, who didn't add to his 13 points in the second half, said having a big lead is mainly what caused the minor letdown in the second half.

"When you look at the scoreboard and see that you're up so much, you get complacent," Bell said.

The Hokies will be following the Hurricanes back to the sunshine state for a game against Florida State on Saturday.

Greenberg emphasized his team needs to prepare hard for every ACC opponent, citing the depth of the entire conference.

"I'm not sure anyone is Kansas or Texas, but everyone is really good," Greenberg said. "One through twelve, everyone is really good."

If the Hokies manage to beat the Seminoles on the road in Tallahassee, it would mark their second win against a top-25 team in just one week.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

*Terrell Bell's 13 points ties his career high...Bell was 3-for-3 from behind the arc--he had never made more than one 3-point field goal in any game.

*Malcolm Delaney is averaging 15 free throw attempts/game in ACC play so far this season.

*The 27-point lead at the end of the first is the Hokies' largest halftime lead against any ACC team since joining the conference in 2004.

*Prior to last night, the series between Miami and Virginia Tech was tied 8-8--VT now leads 9-8...Tech is 4-4 against the Canes in Cassell Coliseum.

* Jeff Allen surpassed 1,000 points in the Hokies win against Seton Hall in Cancun, Mexico.