Hokie ClubGREENSBORO, N.C. – Grant Basile, Justyn Mutts and Sean Pedulla combined to score 51 of Virginia Tech's 67 total points as the Hokies took down Notre Dame, 67-64, in the first round of the New York Life ACC Tournament. Tech will face No. 6 seed NC State on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Hokies (19-13) had four players score in double figures, led by Basile, who had 20 points. Mutts added a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds and Pedulla chipped in as well with 13 points.
Tech trailed by four points with 2:08 remaining in the game before freshman Rodney Rice knocked down a key three and Mutts scored a pair of buckets in the final 65 seconds to push the Hokies back in front.
After jumping out to a 12-point lead in the first half, Virginia Tech saw its advantage diminish as Notre Dame's Marcus Hammond got hot and pulled the Fighting Irish back into the game. In a back-and-forth second half, Notre Dame looked like it started to pull away from Tech before Basile scored five consecutive points to draw the Hokies back in.
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How It Happened
After jumping out to a 14-12 advantage, Virginia Tech went on a 9-0 run with 12:06 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from MJ Collins, to increase its lead to 23-12. The Hokies then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 33-32 advantage. Virginia Tech relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down five shots to account for 15 of its 33 points.
Notre Dame proceeded to take a 62-58 lead before Virginia Tech went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Mutts' layup, to seize a 63-62 lead with 1:02 to go in the contest. The Hokies kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 67-64 win. Virginia Tech took care of business in the paint, recording 20 of its 34 points in the lane.
Game Notes
» Justyn Mutts notched his ninth double-double of the season for the Hokies with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
» Grant Basile, Justyn Mutts, and Sean Pedulla combined to account for 76% of the Hokies points.
» Grant Basile led the Hokies with 20 points.
Gallery: (3-7-2023) MBB: ACC Championship vs. Notre Dame