Virginia Cavaliers vs Virginia Tech Hokies Match Player Stats On Jan 30, 2021

Keve Aluma scored a career-high 29 points and No. 20 Virginia Tech handed No. 8 Virginia its first Atlantic Coast Conference loss in nearly a year, running away with a 65-51 home victory Saturday in Blacksburg, Va.

The Cavaliers (11-3, 7-1 ACC) had won seven straight overall and 15 consecutive conference contests dating back to an 80-73 loss at Louisville on Feb. 8, 2020.

The Hokies (13-3, 7-2) overcame a 10-point, second-half deficit with timely 3-point shooting and terrific defense. Virginia Tech scored 44 points in the second half on 60.9 percent shooting, including 7 of 10 from behind the arc.

Aluma added 10 rebounds for the double-double and Hunter Cattoor scored 15 points for Virginia Tech, which has won five of its last six games.

Jay Huff scored 13 points, Kihei Clark added 11, and Sam Hauser and Trey Murphy III each had 10 for the Cavaliers, who took their largest lead at 39-29 on Huff's jumper with 15:28 left.

The Hokies heated up and knotted the game at 47-47 with three consecutive 3-pointers.

Virginia Tech then surged ahead with a 19-0 run capped by Justyn Mutts' layup with 2:50 remaining.

Virginia did not score for more than seven minutes, going ice cold after Huff's layup with 8:25 remaining. The Cavaliers didn't score again until Justin McKoy's jumper with 1:12 to play.

UVA shot just 29.6 percent in the second half, including 23.1 percent (3 of 13) from long range.

The Cavaliers led 29-21 at halftime, entering the break with an 8-0 run after holding the Hokies scoreless for the final 6:10 of the half.

Aluma scored 16 of Virginia Tech's 21 points in the half, including a personal 7-0 run that tied the game at 21-21 before the drought began.

Virginia scored its first 12 points of the game from 3-point distance and made 7 of 15 attempts from behind the arc in the first half. Clark hit all three of his 3-point shots and scored all of his 11 points.

The Hokies played their second game without starting guard Tyrece Radford, who was suspended indefinitely Monday after being charged with driving while intoxicated and carrying a concealed weapon. He averaged 11.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 14 games this season.

--Field Level Media