Sean Pedulla scored 22 points as host Virginia Tech snapped No. 6 Virginia’s seven-game winning streak with a 74-68 victory on Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg, Va.
Justyn Mutts contributed 17 points and eight assists while Hunter Cattoor scored all 10 of his points in the second half as the Hokies (14-9, 4-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) avenged a 78-68 loss in Charlottesville on Jan. 18.
Jayden Gardner led Virginia (17-4, 9-3) with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Kihei Clark added 17 points and Reece Beekman contributed 15. The Cavaliers never led as they dropped into a tie for second place in the ACC with idle Pitt.
Against the rugged defense of the Cavaliers, the Hokies hit 50.9 percent of their shots from the floor and 7 of 18 (38.9 percent) from beyond the arc as they won for the third time in their last four games following a seven-game losing streak.
It was a 38-38 game five minutes into the second half. But after missing his first six shots, Cattoor drained a trio of 3-pointers in the final 11 minutes as Virginia Tech pushed its lead to as many as 10 points.
Beekman scored nine of his points in the final 10 minutes as Virginia stayed within striking distance. But in the final seven minutes, Grant Basile answered with nine of his 14 points.
Basile’s 3-pointer with 3:27 left gave Virginia Tech a 63-54 lead but Isaac McKneely answered with a 3 of his own.
In the final 1:15, Mutts made two deft feeds to a cutting Basile for layups that kept the Hokies in charge. Then Pedulla wrapped it up by nailing 4 of 4 free throws in the final 21 seconds.
In the first half, Pedulla scored 14 of his points on 5-of-8 shooting.
The Hokies led 26-17 with about seven minutes left in the first half. Virginia cut the deficit to 32-30 at the break with a closing 13-6 surge.
–Field Level Media
