WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four Virginia Tech players scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough to overcome a strong second half by RJ Barrett and the Duke Blue Devils, as they rallied from a halftime deficit to knock off the Hokies 75-73 in a Sweet 16 matchup played Friday night at Capital One Arena.
With the loss, the Hokies closed the campaign with a 26-9 record. Tech set a school record for overall victories and for conference wins this season. Duke – the tournament's top seed – moved to 32-5 and takes on Michigan State in an Elite Eight matchup, with the winner going to the Final Four.
Tech, the No. 4 seed in the East Region, trailed for a good portion of the second half, but rallied in the waning moments. The Hokies shaved an eight-point deficit to two on three occasions in the final five minutes, with the final time coming after Justin Robinson hit two free throws with 29.6 seconds remaining. Trailing 75-73, Tech fouled Duke's Tre Jones with 29.1 seconds to go, and Jones missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving Tech a final opportunity.
The Hokies had three chances to tie or take the lead, but Ahmed Hill and Ty Outlaw missed 3-pointers, and then with 0.6 seconds to go, Hill missed a layup in front of the rim at the buzzer that would have tied the game.
Kerry Blackshear Jr. led Tech with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Hill finished with 15 points, while Justin Robinson added 14 and Wabissa Bede had 10.
The Hokies shot just 40.3 percent from the floor, but stayed in the game because their rebounding. Tech out-rebounded Duke 36-30, including 17 offensive rebounds – 11 by Blackshear.
Barrett, who scored just three points on 1-of-6 shooting in the first half, came alive in the second half. He scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting in the final 20 minutes, helping the Blue Devils rally from a 38-34 halftime deficit. He finished with 18 points.
Zion Williams led Duke with 23 points, while Jones finished with 22 points and eight assists. Jones hit five 3-pointers.
QUOTES TO NOTE
Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams
(On this season and on the past five seasons and what he'll remember)
"I learned so many lessons, incredibly grateful. Just listening to these guys, I don't know that I would say anything different. Obviously, I think, in many respects, I've learned more from them than maybe they've learned from me.
"It's been a lot of fun. Lifelong relationships not only with the players, but with our managers and student trainers. I think I've become a better parent because of my relationship with these parents and seeing their life story and then obviously being around their children every day. Thankful for how it's all transpired.
"You ask about -- or somebody asked about the last two shots. I thought it was perfect. Ty Outlaw shoots one. Med shoots one. And both passes came from 5 [Robinson]. I thought that was perfect. And to even be in that position obviously is a lot of work. But if we were to replay it again right now, I would call the same exact things, because of my faith and trust in those guys."
Virginia Tech guard Ahmed Hill
(On the final play)
"One of our coaches, Jamie [McNeilly], drew up a great play. It was a lob play that we ran kind of last year a lot. And this was our first time running it this year. I saw that they switched. I saw he [Zion Williamson] was trailing. Justin threw a great pass, and I just came up short. And that was about it. I wasn't worried about anything. I just tried to get my eyes locked on the rim and it just bounced to the left."
GAME NOTES
• The double-double marked Blackshear's ninth of the season and the 13th of his career.
• Robinson handed out five assists, and he handed out at least five assists in 14 games this season.
• Bede had scored in double figures in just one game this season (14, Maryland Eastern Shore), but scored 10 – all in the first half.
• Duke's 55.4 percent shooting from the floor was the second-highest allowed by the Hokies this season (Virginia, 58.5). Tech allowed better than 50 percent shooting from the floor in just five games this season – but twice against Duke.
• Tech fell to 8-11 in NCAA Tournament games.
• Tech lost for just the third time this season when out-rebounding its opponents. The Hokies were 18-2 on the season when doing so coming into the game.
Gallery: (3/29/2019) 2019 MEN'S BASKETBALL SWEET 16 GAME