Feb. 23, 2008
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) – A.D. Vassallo scored 27 points and J.T. Thompson added 13, including several key baskets to quiet Georgia Tech’s attempt to rally in the second half, and Virginia Tech held off the Yellow Jackets 92-84 Saturday.
The Hokies (16-11, 7-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), coming off a 69-65 victory at Maryland that stopped a three-game slide, led throughout the second half, but got critical contributions from Thompson when the Yellow Jackets (11-14, 4-7) threatened.
Virginia Tech used a 14-8 run to open a 65-56 lead with 12 minutes left, but the Yellow Jackets scored the next five points. The Hokies missed 3 of 4 free throws next time down court, but Thompson rebounded the last miss and laid it in to make it 68-61.
Thompson also had a dunk for the Hokies’ only basket in a 6-2 run for the Yellow Jackets, then added a follow dunk as the trailer on a fast break when Vassallo missed a layup. That was part of an 8-0 run by Virginia Tech that gave them a 78-67 lead.
The Yellow Jackets, who came in having won three of five road games in the conference, got no closer than nine until the closing seconds as the fouls continued to pile up for both teams and the Hokies made their free throws to maintain their lead.
Georgia Tech was whistled for 34 fouls, the Hokies 26.
Malcolm Delaney added 16 points and Deron Washington 10 before fouling out for the Hokies, who avenged an 81-70 loss in Atlanta on Jan. 19. In that game, Yellow Jackets guard Matt Causey scored 30 points; he didn’t attempt a shot and scored 2 on Saturday.
Maurice Miller led Georgia Tech with 29 points, Anthony Morrow had 18 and Jeremis Smith 15. No other Yellow Jackets players scored more than 6.
The Hokies led 42-38 after a first half that was a foul fest. Georgia Tech was whistled for 18 fouls, the Hokies 13, and 12 players had at least two personals.
The Yellow Jackets used a 10-4 run to open a 22-14 lead, and the Hokies responded immediately with a 12-0 burst. Vassallo had the first seven points in the run.
