Field Level Media
Mar 8, 2019
Guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker posted 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 15 Virginia Tech to an 84-70 victory over Miami on Friday night in Blacksburg, Va., in the final regular-season game before next week's Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
The win assured the Hokies (23-7, 12-6 ACC) of a No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. Miami will play as a No. 12 or No. 13 seed.
Guard/forward Ty Outlaw and guard Ahmed Hill scored 19 and 17 points, respectively, were a combined 10 of 14 from behind the arc to lead a 3-point barrage for the Hokies, who were 14 of 26 on treys as a team.
The loss kept the Hurricanes (13-17, 5-13 ACC) winless in true road games (0-10) and virtually assured coach Jim Larranaga of his first losing season since 1997-98, his first season at George Mason.
Center Ebuka Izundu and guard Chris Lykes led Miami with 16 points each as guard Anthony Lawrence II had 15 points and 11 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double.
The Hokies led by 14 points at the half and retained a double-digit cushion the rest of the way. Their biggest lead was 20 points at 66-46 with 10:44 remaining.
The Hurricanes started the game 5 of 5 from the field and were 7 of 8 and holding a 16-8 lead before the game turned the Hokies' way.
The Hokies went on an 8-0 run to catch up at 16-16 and outscored the visitors 24-3 over a seven-minute span for a 30-19 cushion with just over seven minutes left in the period. They led 45-31 at the half in going 9 of 15 from behind the arc.
In recognition of Virginia Tech's "Senior Night," coach Buzz Williams started injured guard Justin Robinson, but the program's all-time career assist leader and double-figure scorer was on the floor for only a second when the Hokies were called for a violation on the opening center jump. Robinson had missed the previous nine games with a foot injury.
--Field Level Media