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Second-half comeback not enough, as the Hokies fall to Miami at home
Justin Robinson scored 22 points and Justin Bibbs added 16, but Tech fell behind early and couldn't catch up in losing 84-75
February 3, 2018
| 1 | 2 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Miami (17-5, 6-4) | 44 | 40 | 84 |
 Virginia Tech (16-7, 5-5) | 32 | 43 | 75 |
| |||
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech guard Justin Robinson scored 22 points, but it wasn’t enough, as Miami grabbed the early lead and held on to it en route to an 84-75 ACC victory over the Hokies on Saturday at Carilion Clinic Court.
Tech fell to 16-7 overall, 5-5 in the ACC, and saw its’ three-game winning streak snapped. Miami moved to 17-5, 6-4 in the ACC.
Behind torrid first-half shooting — 58.6 percent (17 of 29) — Miami grabbed the lead and held it for the final 37 minutes. Tech used an 8-0 run to slice the lead to 66-63 on a layup by Robinson with 3:51 remaining, but the Lonnie Walker IV hit a clutch 3-pointer with 3:22 to go to push the lead to 69-63.
Robinson scored on another layup with 3:03 to go to trim the lead to 69-65, but Walker answered again. His tough turnaround jumper with 2:46 left push the lead to six, and Virginia Tech got no closer than four the rest of the way, as Miami made 9 of 12 from the free-throw line in the final 1:16.
“I don’t think, collectively, we played hard enough,” Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said. “We don’t have a margin to overcome lack of toughness, lack of playing hard.”
Anthony Lawrence II scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds for the ’Canes, who won their second straight and for the fourth time in their past five outings. He hit 9 of 10 from the floor, including three 3-pointers. Lonnie Walker IV and DJ Vasiljevic added 14 points each.
Robinson hit 8 of 13 from the floor, including two 3-pointers and all four of his free-throw attempts. Justin Bibbs added 16 points.
GAME NOTES
• Robinson scored in double figures for the 10th straight time and the team-best 17th time this season. He has scored in double figures in all 10 ACC games this season.
• Bibbs passed Les Henson into 22nd place in career scoring at Tech. He now has 1,339 career points.
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 15 points. It marked his 12th game in double figures this season.
• P.J. Horne grabbed a career-high seven rebounds. He also played a career-high 23 minutes.
• Tech hit at least eight 3-pointers in a game for the eight straight game.
• For just the third time this season, the Hokies allowed an opponent to shoot better than 50 percent.
• The Hokies’ minus-13 in rebounding was tied for its largest deficit on the boards this season (Syracuse).
UP NEXT
The Hokies play NC State on Wednesday at Carilion Clinic Court. The game tips off at 9 p.m.
For updates on Virginia Tech men's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @HokiesMBB
