Hokie ClubATHENS, Ga. – Virginia Tech lost to the University of Georgia, 67-66, at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga., on Tuesday night in non-conference men’s basketball action. The loss drops the Hokies to 5-4 overall, while the Bulldogs improve to 6-3 on the season.
The Hokies took a 41-38 lead into the intermission in a game that saw 13 ties and 11 lead changes. Neither team led the contest by more than five points at any time during the game and a Tech four-point lead was the largest of the second half.
The Hokies took the lead with 57 seconds remaining on a pair of Cheick Diakite free throws. Georgia then took the lead on a bucket in the paint by Albert Jackson. Tech set up its final position but missed on a pair of shots late and Jackson grabbed the defensive rebound with 0.5 on the clock. Jackson missed the front end of the one-and-one, but following a quick Virginia Tech timeout, the Hokies were unable to get off a last-second shot.
A.D. Vassallo led all scorers with 23 points. He also led the Hokies with seven rebounds and three steals. Malcolm Delaney was the only other Hokie in double figures, with 11 points. Corey Butler and Chris Barnes led the Bulldogs with 11 points each. Diakite had a team, season-high six blocked shots in the game.
Tech out shot UGa from the field and the line, but the Bulldogs out rebounded the Hokies, 43-38 and forced Tech into 18 turnovers. UGa scored 23 points off the Hokies’ turnovers and had 12 second-chance points.
The Hokies return to action on Sunday, as they host Longwood at 2 p.m., in Cassell Coliseum.