ATLANTA (AP) — Ahmed Hill scored 15 points, Kerry Blackshear Jr. added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 9 Virginia Tech overcame a terrible shooting performance to beat Georgia Tech 52-49 on Wednesday night.
The Hokies (14-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their ninth straight game for the school's best start to a season since the 1982-83 team had an identical record. They never trailed after Georgia Tech led in the first minute.
Virginia Tech, the nation's second-best 3-point shooting team, hit only five 3s and finished at 18.5 percent from beyond the arc but still made enough stops to win.
Jose Alvarado scored 20 points and Abdoulaye Gueye had 11 for Georgia Tech (9-6, 1-1). The Yellow Jackets had won three in a row.
The game featured an abundance of mistakes in the closing minutes. Justin Robinson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 for Virginia Tech and Michael Devoe did the same for the Yellow Jackets. James Banks III missed an easy layup for Georgia Tech and, after Blackshear hit a free throw, Brandon Alston threw the ball out of bounds with no teammate nearby.
Gueye made the final gaffe, stepping on the baseline as he attempted to throw a pass down the court with 1.8 seconds remaining.
Hill provided the spark offensively and Robinson defensively as the Hokies earned a tough conference road win with a trip to No. 4 Virginia up next.
Virginia Tech appears to be back where it left off last February when it achieved its highest ranking ever at No. 8. But on this night, the Hokies had to make do without their usual perimeter shooting.
Virginia Tech was 2 for 13 on 3s before Hill connected from the left corner. He followed with an acrobatic, fast-break dunk on the ensuing possession to make it 37-27.
The Hokies missed their next eight attempts from beyond the arc before Isaiah Wilkins hit a 3 with 7:42 remaining.
BIG PICTURE
Virginia Tech: Robinson, a senior guard and the school's No. 3 career leader in assists, turned his focus to defense with the Hokies struggling to shoot in the first half, drawing three offensive fouls and pumping his fist at the Georgia Tech student section during another stand. In the closing minutes, Robinson jumped to affect Devoe's attempted 3 and fell hard to the floor and hit the small of his back in front of the Virginia Tech bench. He rolled over onto his chest, got up and soon grabbed the missed free throw before assisting on Hill's layup with a long bounce pass.
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets were coming off three straight wins because of improved shot selection, but they couldn't match Virginia Tech's length and size. Alvarado was the only steady offensive force. Banks, the team's second-leading scorer, had just two points on 1-for-5 shooting. Curtis Haywood III, its fourth-leading scorer, missed the game with flu-like symptoms.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech: Off the rest of the week. The Hokies visit No. 4 Virginia next Tuesday.
Georgia Tech: Plays at Syracuse on Saturday.
