Jalen Cone #15 of the Virginia Tech Hokies. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Dejan Vasiljevic scored 18 points to lead Miami to a 71-61 victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday night.
The Hurricanes (11-9, 3-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) built a 22-point first-half lead and withstood a Hokies rally that got them within 63-59 on Landers Nolley’s layup with 1:01 remaining.
Vasiljevic missed the front end of a one-on-one with 52 seconds remaining, giving Virginia Tech (14-7, 5-5) an opportunity to further reduce the deficit. But Miami’s Harlond Beverly stole Wabissa Bede’s pass and converted two free throws with 42 seconds left for a 65-59 advantage. Beverly finished with 13 points.
Vasiljevic’s layup with five seconds left gave Miami a 69-61 lead. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Hurricanes.
Rodney Miller finished with 11 points, including seven in a 24-2 run over a 7:30 stretch that helped Miami build a 41-19 lead in the first half. Miller’s layup with 4:04 remaining capped the surge.
Isaiah Wong added 10 points for the Hurricanes.
Tyrece Radford scored a career-high 22 points for the Hokies.
Teammates Jalen Cone #15 and Wabissa Bede #3 of the Virginia Tech Hokies. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
BIG PICTURE:
Virginia Tech: The Hokies finished with 12 turnovers for the second consecutive game in double figures. Virginia Tech entered the game committing a nation-low 9.7 turnovers per game.
Miami: A depleted rotation has forced coach Jim Larranaga to increase the minutes of freshmen Wong and Beverly and Wong. For the second consecutive game, they played extended minutes — Wong with 32 and Beverly with 29.
UP NEXT:
Virginia Tech: The Hokies will return home and face No. 5 Florida State on Saturday.
Miami: The Hurricanes play at Pittsburgh to conclude their two-game regular season set on Sunday. Miami beat the visiting Panthers 66-58 on Jan. 12.
