UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Justin Robinson scored 19 points to lead four players in double figures, but it wasn't enough as No. 13 Virginia Tech fell 63-62 to Penn State in a nonconference game played Tuesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The loss marked the first of the season for the Hokies, who fell to 5-1 overall. Penn State improved to 4-2 overall.
The Hokies twice had opportunities to take the lead in the final minute. They cut Penn State's lead to 63-62 on two free throws by Robinson with 1:24 remaining and then forced a turnover on Penn State's ensuing possession.
Coming out of a timeout, Robinson missed a long 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, and Ahmed Hill, who grabbed the rebound, missed a short baseline jumper. Tech's Kerry Blackshear Jr. fouled Myles Dread to stop the clock with 4.8 seconds to go.
Tech's second opportunity came after Dread missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Hill grabbed the rebound. But he threw the ball away trying to get the ball up the floor quickly. Tech fouled Penn State's John Harrar with 0.7 seconds left, and Harrar missed a one-and-one. The Hokies called timeout, but weren't able to get a shot off.
Hill's turnover was the 15th of the evening for Tech – the Hokies' second-most in a game this season.
Robinson connected on 6 of 12 from the floor for Tech, including four 3-pointers. Ty Outlaw scored 16 points, while Blackshear finished with 14. Tech shot 44 percent from the floor.
Myreon Jones paced Penn State with 18 points.
(11/27/2018) 2018 ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
QUOTES TO NOTE
Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams
(On Penn State's size vs. Tech's lack of size and trying to overcome the difference)
"Well, it's our roster. Happy for our roster. It's been pretty good so far. Two things specifically from a numbers' perspective. If an opponent is getting 44 percent of their offensive misses, that puts you in a negative position. I think that was the first time this year that we had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. So if the opponent is going to shoot more balls than you are, then you've got to make for sure that you don't give them extra possessions with turnovers and try as best as you can to slow their offensive rebounds. I think we did better in the second half of preventing their second shots, but we did worse relative to turnovers."
(On Penn State's defense)
"I don't know. You'd probably have to ask Coach what his thought process was on how they were doing it. I don't want to get into what their strategy was. Our turnover rate was too high. I think down the stretch, maybe the last media timeout, I think we only scored one basket. I think in the previous media timeout, we only scored one basket. Some of that was turnover-specific. I thought our looks were fine. It was just too high of a turnover rate."
Forward Ty Outlaw
(On Penn State's defense)
"I don't know if I would say it was their defense, or it was us. I think it was our first road game and we didn't handle the refs or the crowd or the momentum of a close game. We didn't play with maturity in clutch moments, and that led to the turnovers. They played solid defense, of course. I don't want to take anything away from them, but I think we just showed a lack of maturity. We could have completely handled it better. They didn't do anything wild. I think it was mostly our fault."
GAME NOTES
• Tech fell to 5-8 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, including an 0-3 mark against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.
• The Hokies finished with 10 3-pointers, marking their fifth time in six games in which they have connected on at least 10 3s.
• Tech's nine assists were its' fewest in a game this season. The Hokies' 44 percent from the floor was their lowest field-goal percentage in a game this season.
• Blackshear's nine rebounds a season high for him and the most by a Tech player in a game this season.
• Robinson and Alexander-Walker now have scored in double figures in every game this season.
• Outlaw scored a season-high 16 points and has scored in double figures in back-to-back games.
UP NEXT
Tech returns home for a Saturday evening nonconference game against Central Connecticut State in what will be the first of three straight home nonconference tilts. Tipoff time at Carillion Clinic Court is slated for 5 p.m.