SteemSports Presenter:@hogan22
SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets
In the game of the day yesterday in college basketball, the 2nd ranked Virginia Cavaliers went down to the wire against their bitter rival, the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Cavaliers would fall by one point in overtime in one of the most exciting games of the year.
It was a wild week in basketball that had tons of upsets, including the top ranked Villanova Wildcats and the 3rd ranked Purdue Boilermakers losing games. This set up the opportunity for Virginia to earn the #1 ranking when the new polls come out on Monday, but those hopes were shot with the 61-60 loss.
The game got off to a relatively fast pace for a game featuring the best defense in the country. Virginia plays slow and smothers teams but the Hokies had some nice success in the first half forcing the tempo and taking a 33-26 lead into the half. But the vaunted Cavalier defense would take hold in the second half and the Hokies were held to just 16 second half points. But they still held on to a 49-47 lead with 11 seconds left in the game. Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett called a time out and drew up a play for Ty Jerome. He was able to get free for a 17 foot jumper and nailed it to tie the game at 49-49 and force overtime.
The Cavaliers home crowd was jumping up and down and just as intense as the players on both sides. The Cavaliers took control of the 5 minute overtime and built a five point lead with 39 seconds left after Isaiah Wilkins hit two free throws. It looked as if the game was over but Kerry Blackshear Jr. quickly drove down the court and hit a lay up with 32 seconds left pulling the Hokies to within 59-56. After a short timeout, the Hokies fouled Devon Hall, a 90.6% free throw shooter. He is one of the best in the country. Hall knocked down the first free throw and grew the lead to four points with 30 seconds left. But he would miss the second and Nickeil Alexander-Walker would nail a 24 foot 3 pointer to pull within a point a 60-59.
The Hokies would put on a full court press and try and steal the ball but were forced to foul with 13 seconds left in overtime. They would once again send Devon Hall to the line. But Hall would miss the front end of a one and one and the Hokies would get the rebound setting up Kerry Blackshear Jr. with the game winning layup with 5 seconds left! Virginia Tech would celebrate as the Cavalier fans looked shocked at the outcome.
This victory for the Hokies will certainly fair well for their hopes to may March Madness in a few weeks. A road win against a 2nd ranked team is as impressive as it gets for the committee. The Virginia Cavaliers drop to 23-2 on the year and will be back in action on Tuesday in a tough road test at the 25th ranked Miami Hurricanes. We will see tomorrow where they fall to in the rankings.
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