BLACKSBURG – Tyrece Radford scored a career-high 26 points, but Miami made the key plays in the third overtime and knocked off the Hokies in a wild 102-95 triple-overtime game played Wednesday night at Carilion Clinic Court.
With the loss, the Hokies fell to 15-11 overall, 6-9 in the ACC. Miami moved to 14-12 overall, 6-10 in league play.
The game marked the longest ACC game since Dec. 20, 2003 when a Chris Paul-led Wake Forest team won 119-114 in triple overtime over North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Tech trailed for much of the game, but had a great chance to win the game in regulation, grabbing a 77-74 lead after Jalen Cone made the second of two free throws with 13 seconds remaining. But Kameron McGusty tied the game when he scored on a layup, and the Hokies' Radford fouled him with five seconds to go. McGusty made the free throw to tie the game at 77, and Radford's shot at the buzzer was blocked by Keith Stone, sending the game into overtime.
Tech had a chance to win the game in the first overtime period, but Miami's Isaiah Wong hit a short jumper with six seconds remaining to knot the game at 84. Cone missed a jumper just before the buzzer sounded, sending the game into a second overtime.
In the second overtime, Wong again hurt the Hokies, hitting a jumper with 16 seconds left that tied the game at 90. Radford missed a short jumper before time expired for the Hokies, and the game went into a third overtime.
In the third overtime, McGusty helped Miami take control, scoring five of his 21 points in that period. He hit one of two free-throw attempts with 3:29 left to give Miami a 93-90 lead. Moments later, he scored back-to-back baskets, pushing the Miami lead to 98-92 with 56 seconds to go. Lykes layup with 20 seconds remaining, and Wong's two free throws with 10 seconds left enabled the 'Canes to hold off the Hokies.
Tech connected on just 2 of 9 from the floor in the third overtime.
Wong finished a career-high 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Chris Lykes added 23 for the 'Canes, who played in the first triple overtime game in school history.
Wong's two free throws capped an outstanding night at the free-throw line for Miami, which connected on 29 of 32 attempts. Wong, a freshman, made all 14 of his attempts.
Cone scored a career-high 20 off the bench for the Hokies, hitting four 3-pointers, while Landers Nolley II added 18 points and 11 rebounds.
QUOTE TO NOTE
Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young
(On his team's effort)
"They give us everything they have in their tank every time they go on the floor. We just didn't have that pop in the first half, and Miami was good. Miami is good. They're playing good basketball. Hard to keep them out of the lane … We bounced back in the second half, and we competed. I thought we were very, very good in a number of areas. I can't ask any more. I just hate to lose that. Hate to lose it."
GAME NOTES
• The triple overtime game tied for the longest in the history of Cassell Coliseum.
• Radford's 26 points surpassed his previous career high of 24, which came in the Hokies' loss to the 'Canes in Coral Gables.
• Radford's double-double marked his third of the season.
• Nolley's double-double marked his second in the past three games and his third of the season.
• The last time two Hokies registered double-doubles in the same game came on Nov. 12, 2017 vs. The Citadel when Kerry Blackshear Jr. & Chris Clarke did so.
• Cone has hit at least four 3-pointers in seven games this season and is shooting 53% from beyond the arc.
• Tech set season highs in both free throws (24) and free throws attempted (28).
UP NEXT
The Hokies return to the court Saturday when they play Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The game is slated to tip at 8 p.m.Gallery: (2/19/2020) 2020 MEN'S BASKETBALL vs. MIAMI
