BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Trailing 75-73 with 6.7 seconds left, Darius Maddox took the ball the length of the court and hit the game-winning 3-pointer to send Virginia Tech into the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
Maddox's shot secured a 76-75 win for the Hokies and punched their ticket to the ACC Tournament quarterfinals for the third time in four years.
In the Hokies' first trip to overtime this season, Keve Aluma scored the first six points to get the ball rolling. Justyn Mutts added an import free throw to keep Tech in striking distance, while Maddox came up clutch with his second game-winning 3-pointer of the season, prolonging the Hokies' ACC Tournament journey.
The Hokies (20-12) had two players score in double figures, led by Keve Aluma, who recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Storm Murphy added 15 points and four assists, while Justyn Mutts added nine points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
Tech's shooting from beyond the arc was a difference maker in the matchup, as it shot 42.9% (12-28) from deep. The Hokies' efficiency from the 3-point line was notable in the first half, as Murphy shot 4-4 and Hunter Cattoor shot 2-2 from downtown in the first 20 minutes.
Virginia Tech did a great job disrupting Clemson shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Mutts' two rejections led the way individually for the Hokies.
How It Happened
In the first 10 minutes of Wednesday night's contest, both teams were feeling each other out and going bucket-for-bucket. Between the 9:31 and 5:41 mark in the first half, the Hokies put together a 14-3 run to grow a 10-point lead. Having had 15 points from the bench at that point, Murphy took the reins and scored 12-consecutive points for the Hokies (4-4 on 3FG). With that burst, Virginia Tech took a 43-32 lead into the break.
Clemson didn't get its first bucket of the second half until the 15:40 mark, but Virginia Tech struggled to grow its lead past the nine-point margin. After a layup by Nahiem Alleyne gave Virginia Tech a 59-48 lead with 7:17 to go, the Hokies would go six minutes and 28 seconds without hitting another bucket, a Justyn Mutt's layup to regain a 63-62 lead. Clemson answered with a bucket of its own, followed by a Storm Murphy 3-pointer. With Tech leading by two, PJ Hall scored a hook shot with seven seconds left to tie the game at 66 and take the contest into overtime.
Keve Aluma scored the Hokies first six points in overtime and the Hokies led 72-69 before the Tigers scored five unanswered. Mutts hit one of two free throws to make it a one-point game with eight seconds left, then Hall of Clemson split free throws on his end to restore a two-point lead for the Tigers with 6.7 seconds left. Virginia Tech then inbounded the ball to Darius Maddox, who dribbled the floor then pulled up and hit a game-winning 3-pointer.
Game Notes
» Maddox hit a game-winner as time expired.
» Keve Aluma notched a double-double for the Hokies with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Hokies shot well from three point range, knocking down 12 of 28 long range attempts.
» The Virginia Tech bench came alive by scoring 23 points to its scoring output.
» Virginia Tech had a 36-29 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Hokies were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying five blocks as a team.
» Keve Aluma led the Hokies with a game-high 19 points.
» Justyn Mutts and Keve Aluma led Virginia Tech with a game-high 10 rebounds apiece.
Records Set
Storm Murphy's five made buckets from behind the arc ties a program record for made 3s in an ACC Tournament game. Jarell Eddie also hit five treys in the 2014 ACC Tournament against Miami (Fla.). As a team, Tech sank 12 shots from downtown, breaking the previous school record of 11 made 3-pointers in an ACC Tournament game against Miami (Fla.) in the 2019 tournament.
Mr. 350
The win marked head coach Mike Young's 350th win as a Division I head coach.
Gallery: (3-9-2022) MBB: ACC Second Round vs. Clemson