Blacksburg, Va. – Senior Michael Devoe, the ACC’s third leading scorer, put up 30 points on the night, but Georgia Tech was unable to overcome Virginia Tech’s hot shooting and balance on offense and fell to the Hokies, 81-66, in Atlantic Coast Conference basketball Wednesday night at Cassell Coliseum.
Georgia Tech (9-12, 2-8 ACC) actually made more three-point field goals (10) than did the Hokies (eight). But Virginia Tech (12-10, 4-7 ACC) made its hay from long range early and opened up the inside, where the Hokies shot 61 percent on the night compared to 40 percent for the Yellow Jackets.
The game was close throughout the early parts of the first half before Virginia Tech went on a 15-2 run starting at the 8:21 mark of the first half to help the Hokies take a 46-35 lead into halftime.
Storm Murphy, who drained three early threes to give Virginia Tech the upper hand, finished with 18 points, while Keve Aluma hurt the Jackets inside with 24 points, hitting 8-of-11 shots from the floor and 8-of-9 from the foul line.
The Hokies led by as many as 22 points in the second half (63-41 with 13:53 left) before the Jackets fought back, going on their own 8-0 run, to trim the Hokie lead to 11 before ultimately losing the game.
Devoe was the only Yellow Jacket in double figures, posting his third game this season of 30 or more points. He made 11 of 19 shots from the floor, and 5-of-9 from three-point range. Deivon Smith and Kyle Sturdivant each scored nine points, while Jordan Usher chipped in with eight. Rodney Howard was the top rebounder for the Yellow Jackets, pulling down six boards on the night.
Virginia Tech finished the game hitting 52.8 percent from the floor, including 8-of-20 from three-point range, while the Yellow Jackets connected on just 40 percent.
Georgia Tech returns home on Saturday, Feb. 5 for a matchup against Clemson. The game will be televised on the ACC’s Regional Sports Network (Bally Sports South in Georgia).
Deivon Smith (5-navy) scored nine points with two assists for the Jackets. (photo by Keith Lucas)
Post-Game Notes
- Tech has utilized its original starting lineup with which it began the season for the last four games, as well as for six of the first eight games this season. Tech has utilized eight different starting lineups this season.
- Tech has won the turnover battle (12 to 14 vs. Virginia Tech) in each of its last seven games and has forced 14.3 turnovers against ACC teams this season (No. 2 in the conference). The Jackets also are No. 2 in the ACC in turnover margin vs. ACC teams (plus-2.0 per game).
- Tech outscored Miami in the paint (34-28) and on fast breaks (24-15), but were outscored at the free throw line 21-3. Only against Stetson (2-for-7) has Tech scored fewer points from the line this season.
- Tech has recorded 74 steals across its last six games, having posted 10 or more in five of its last seven games. Tech is No. 2 in the ACC in steals vs. conference teams (9.10).
- Tech has given up a 50-percent shooting night to four teams this season (Virginia Tech shot 52.8 percent) and 80 points to three teams (Virginia Tech scored 81).
- Tech made 10 or more three-point field goals for the fifth time this season but lost when doing so for the first time to Virginia Tech.
- Michael Devoe scored 30 or more points for the third time this season (30 vs Virginia Tech) and for the fourth time in his career. He previously scored 37 in a win at Georgia on Nov. 19 and 33 in a loss to Wisconsin on Dec. 1.
- Devoe has averaged 19.8 points over five games since his two-point night Jan. 15 at North Carolina.
- Devoe has scored 20 or more points 11 times this season and 31 times in his career.
- Devoe now has 1,537 points in his collegiate career, 17th place on Georgia Tech’s all-time scoring list.
- Jordan Usher snapped a personal 12-game streak of scoring in double digits, tallying just eight at Virginia Tech (3-12 FG, 2-6 3pt). Usher had averaged 16.6 points and 7.2 rebounds over his last 12 games (75-151 FG, 49.7 pct., 21-53 3pt FG).
Jordan Usher (4-navy) hit a pair of three-point field goals and scored eight points before fouling out. (photo by Keith Lucas)
