CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –In a game dictated by runs, North Carolina earned a hard-fought 78-68 win over Virginia Tech inside the Dean E. Smith Center on Monday night. Tech's Justyn Mutts recorded his first double-double of the season in the Hokies' third-straight road game.
In addition to Mutts' 18-point, 10-rebound outing, the Hokies' (10-9, 2-6) Keve Aluma put up 19 points and six rebounds, while Hunter Cattoor tacked on 13 points and seven rebounds.
North Carolina's Armando Bacot scored 12 of the Tar Heels' first 14 points, starting 6-6 from the field. The ACC's leading rebounder recorded a 10th-consecutive double-double, putting up 14 points and hauling in 20 boards.
Tech led for portions of the night and was within striking distance for almost the entirety of the matchup, yet struggled on the glass as Bacot's 20 rebounds put a damper on the Hokies' effort.
With four players in double figures, Virginia Tech shot 46.6 percent from the field – its highest tally in a loss this season. For the second time in two games, the Hokies fell despite shooting 38 percent or higher from beyond the arc. The team had been 8-0 when reaching that threshold before the Boston College game last Saturday.
How It Happened
After falling behind 17-6, Virginia Tech went on an 8-0 run with 12:58 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Aluma, to narrow its deficit to 17-14. North Carolina answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Hokies down 37-33 entering halftime.
Virginia Tech came out of halftime clicking on all cylinders, going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Mutts' three, to seize a 38-37 lead with 18:55 to go in the contest. North Carolina re-asserted control, outscoring the Hokies 41-30 the rest of the way to hand Virginia Tech the 78-68 loss. Virginia Tech took care of business in the paint, recording 22 of its 35 points in the lane.
Game Notes
» Justyn Mutts notched a double-double for the Hokies with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Hokies held the Tar Heels to only 36.5 percent shooting from the field.
» Keve Aluma led the Hokies with 19 points.
» Virginia Tech got a team-high 10 rebounds from Justyn Mutts.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.