CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Though it had four double-digit scorers, Virginia Tech (13-9, 5-6) went cold at the wrong time as Miami (15-7, 6-5) snatched the 82-74 home victory. The Hurricanes, thanks to 27-29 (93%) from the free-throw line and a key 15-2 run late in the second half, pulled away from Tech Saturday afternoon inside the Watsco Center.
The second regular-season matchup between the Hokies and the Hurricanes was a back-and-forth affair until the final minutes. Tech was unable to overcome missed free throws and costly turnovers down the stretch. Miami scored 20 more points than VT from the charity stripe.
Sean Pedulla, who scored his 1,000th career point, led all scorers with 21 points on 8 of 18 shooting from the field. Hunter Cattoor (19), Tyler Nickel (10) and Robbie Beran (10) all put in double-digit scoring performances as well. Lynn Kidd added six points and led Tech with 11 rebounds. The Hokies were 7 of 14 (50%) from the free-throw line – their lowest percentage of the season.
Norchad Omier and Kyshawn George led Miami with 16 points apiece. The Hurricanes' offense was a tale of two halves, putting up 56 points in the second stanza after trailing 35-26 at the break.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams scored on two of their initial four possessions, Miami up 8-6 at the 16-minute mark. Beran scored the Hokies' first two baskets. Pedulla's first field goal, a 3-pointer, put him over 1,000 career points. Kidd made his first two attempts, drawing the Hokies within two at 16-18.
- Nickel and Cattoor's 3-pointers extended the Hokies run to 11-2. They were up 30-25 with three and a half minutes to go. Another Cattoor 3-pointer extended Tech's lead to eight.
- Tech's hot 47% shooting from the field helped it capture and maintain a lead toward the end of half one in Coral Gables. Miami's nine turnovers also helped the Hokies keep the advantage. They led 35-26 at the break.
- Beran opened the second half how he started the first, with Tech's first two baskets. Cattoor's 3-pointer stretched the Hokies' lead back to 10 with 16 minutes to go.
- Mylyjael Poteat's third basket, shooting 3 for 3 on the game, made the score 57-47. This capped a quick 5-0 Tech run. Cattoor made two free throws to break a 9-0 Hurricanes run and retake the lead. Back-to-back Pedulla buckets sparked a 6-0 Tech run with five minutes to go in the game.
- Pedulla's made free throw broke an impactful 9-0 Miami run. Tech was down seven with a minute remaining in the contest. Six second-half turnovers proved costly for Tech as the Hurricanes took the victory, 82-74
NOTES
- Tech has now lost four straight games to Miami.
- The Hokies are now 7-14 all-time against Miami in Coral Gables.
- Sean Pedulla clinched 1,000 career points in the loss. He has scored 54 points in two games against Miami this season.
- Lynn Kidd led the team with 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT
- Tech stays on the road to play at Notre Dame, Saturday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Gallery: (2-3-2024) MBB: at Miami