BLACKSBURG – Nahiem Alleyne scored a career-high 22 points, and Virginia Tech made all the important plays in the final five minutes to rally from a small deficit and put away Chattanooga 63-58 in a nonconference game Wednesday at Carilion Clinic Court.
With the victory, the Hokies snapped a three-game losing streak and moved to 7-3 on the season. The Hokies also extended their homecourt nonconference winning streak to 30 games. Chattanooga fell to 6-5.
Alleyne hit 7 of 13 from the floor, including three 3-pointers for the cold-shooting Hokies, who shot just 39%. Landers Nolley II added 19 points for Tech, but made just 7 of 20 from the floor.
The Mocs led 51-47 after a 3-pointer by David Jean-Baptiste with 5:23 remaining, but the Hokies answered by scoring on six of their next seven possessions. An Alleyne 3-pointer started a 14-2 run that enabled Tech to build a 61-53 lead and pull away.
Chattanooga cut the deficit to 61-58 on a 3-pointer by Jonathan Scott with seven seconds left, but Alleyne hit two free throws to seal it.
Stefan Kenic led Chattanooga with 16 points. Leading scorer Matt Ryan finished with just two points – after averaging 15 per game coming in.
QUOTES TO NOTE
Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young
(On his team's overall performance)
"This isn't the NBA. We're not playing 82 games. We're playing 35, 36, 37 if you're fortunate enough to go to postseason. It's not always easy to load that gun and play your best night in and night out. We didn't play our best game. A lot of that is attributed to Chattanooga. They played a good ballgame. But I'm proud of my men. They got down four there in the second half and made enough plays to get out."
(On his team's late run)
"I told them in a timeout, and I was trying to trick them a little bit. I told them, 'We need this. We need to find a way to win close games.' We're going to have so many of them moving ahead … I just thought we executed things better. Obviously, we got shots contested, and we rebounded the ball. We were fortunate enough to get out of there."
(On the Hokies only making six 3-pointers)
"I just thought our movement – we looked like we were so slow and heavy," Young said. " I'm not sure what to attribute that to other than, again, it's unrealistic to think that your team is going to play like gangbusters night in and night out. We had a tough night. We got out of here with a win, and the last time I checked, that's what matters the most."
GAME NOTES
• The Hokies' 39% shooting was their second-worst shooting performance of the season, and the Hokies made just six 3-pointers – their second-fewest 3's in a game this season.
• Alleyne's previous career high was 20 points, which he scored in Tech's win over Delaware State.
• Alleyne's seven field goals tied a career high, and he set a career high with 13 attempts (previous high was 11 against Delaware State).
• Alleyne's five rebounds were a career high.
• Nolley has scored in double figures in nine of 10 games this season.
• Wabissa Bede handed out seven assists and has registered at least five assists in all 10 of Tech's games.
• Bede also grabbed eight rebounds – his fourth game with at least five rebounds this season.
• Tech played without guard Hunter Cattoor, who missed the game with an ankle injury. Cattoor was averaging 6.4 points and 24 minutes per game.
UP NEXT
The Hokies return to the court Sunday when they take on Gardner-Webb at Carilion Clinic Court. The tipoff for the game is slated for 1:30 p.m.Gallery: (12/11/2019) 2019 MEN'S BASKETBALL vs. CHATTANOOGA