BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Virginia Tech arrived at the summit of its ACC Tournament climb on Saturday night inside the Barclays Center, as the Hokies defeated top-seeded Duke, 82-67.
Hunter Cattoor picked a fantastic time to have the best game of his career. The junior sharpshooter scored 31 points, shooting 7-9 from beyond the arc, in one the most impressive showings a Hokie has ever had in a single game.
Virginia Tech led for over 30 minutes of the championship game, mirroring the domination that it showed throughout much of the tournament. From the start, it was evident that the Hokies would produce an elite shooting performance that had carried them so far in the 12-2 run leading into Saturday night's game. Cattoor and Keve Aluma, who had 19 points, were a handful for the Blue Devil's defense.
Elite 3-point shooting aside, the Hokies reached the championship contest by bringing intensity in all aspects of its game, specifically defense. After weathering the early storm of Duke matching it bucket-for-bucket, seventh-seeded Virginia Tech dominated the boards against the oversized Duke front court, reeling in 37 boards to Duke's 36. The Hokies generated 10 turnovers, which were turned into 14 points.
Lifting the ACC trophy seemed to be a pipe dream on Wednesday night, when Clemson held a two-point lead over Tech with only six seconds remaining in overtime. Cue the beginning of the legend that Hokies now know as 'March Maddox.'
On Thursday and Friday, Virginia Tech took the floor against higher-seeded opposition in Notre Dame and North Carolina. Both teams posed a challenge for the Hokies in different ways, yet the experienced Tech squad weathered all that the Fighting Irish and Tar Heels threw at them.
The Hokies' run was a reflection of the squad that made it. In a team that featured the same starting lineup all season – a lineup comprised of four players that weren't even committed to play high-major college hoops – consistency won games.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams started out shooting lights out, heading into the first media timeout a combined 11-15 from the field and the Hokies leading 14-12. Things balanced out shortly after and Virginia Tech went 5 minutes and 49 seconds without scoring until Hunter Cattoor drove for a layup. Cattoor's scoring became a headline in the first half, as the junior shot 5-7 from the field, accumulating 17 points. Virginia Tech grew its lead to as many as seven before the Blue Devils finished the second half on a 4-0 run. At the break, Tech led 42-39.
The Hokies came out firing again in the second half, specifically Cattoor, who scored nine of Tech's first 13 points in the second half. Both teams traded baskets once Virginia Tech assumed an eight-point lead with fouls becoming more commonplace as the half prolonged. However, the battle-tested Hokies stood their ground through all Duke surges. Cattoor continued to provide points, while Justyn Mutts and Keve Aluma made plays on both ends of the floor. Nahiem Alleyne and Storm Murphy were cool as can be with the rock as Tech saw out the contest for an 82-67 win.
GAME NOTES
- Saturday's win marks Virginia Tech's first ACC Tournament championship and the program's first tournament crown since winning the Metro trophy in 1979.
- Hunter Cattoor had a career-high 31 points, shooting 7-9 from deep and 11-16 from the field.
- Cattoor's 11 field goals and seven 3-pointers are both single-game records for Tech players in the ACC Tournament.
- Virginia Tech's 32 field goals sets and 18 assists tie program records for single-game ACC Tournament contests.
- Keve Aluma recorded a career high seven assists and his eigth double-double of the season.Gallery: (3-12-2022) MBB: ACC Final vs. Duke Game Images