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).