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 Virginia Tech ((9-13) (1-8)) | 30 | 40 | 70 |
 Syracuse ((15-7) (6-3)) | 34 | 38 | 72 |
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In typical fashion for the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team this season, the game came down to the wire but the Hokies were unable to come out on top as they stumbled against Syracuse, 72-70, at the Carrier Dome Tuesday night. A last-second dagger from Michael Gbinije was the deciding factor, as the Hokies fell for the eighth time by three or less points.
Tech (9-13, 1-8 ACC) led by as many as 13 points nearing the end of the game, but was unable to make a field goal in the final four minutes and 45 seconds of regulation. Shane Henry put in a layup with just under five to play to put the Hokies up 65-56, but six turnovers in the final 3:40 of action gave Syracuse (15-7, 6-3 ACC) all it needed to make a comeback.
The Hokies held on to a one-possession lead as the clock got down under a minute and a missed jumper by Rakeem Christmas forced the Orange to foul as they trailed late. Justin Bibbs hit both free throws to put Tech up by four, but Gbinije worked his way in for a layup to cut it to two. Tech called back-to-back timeouts, the final with 26 seconds left, but turned the ball over immediately after the second. The ensuing foul by the Hokies sent Gbinije to the line where he hit both shots.
With the game tied and seven seconds remaining, a final Tech turnover would prove to cost the Hokies the game as Syracuse recovered the ball and Gbinije got the final look of the game, nailing the jumper with less than a second remaining to give Syracuse the edge.
The Hokies trailed by just four at the half, 34-30, and got things going right away in the new period. Tech went six for six from beyond the arc to start the second half, after attempting just six threes in the entire first half. Malik Muller, who didn’t score in the first half, began the second going 3 for 3 from three-point range.
After a three-pointer from Jalen Hudson just over five and a half minutes into the second half regained the Tech lead, the Hokies never trailed again until the game was decided.
Hudson finished the game with a season-best 18 points in the game, sparked by a 10-point first half. He added seven rebounds and three assists for the Hokies. Bibbs led the way for the Hokies in the game with 19 points.
Syracuse was led by Gbinije and Trevor Cooney who each scored 18 points. Christmas added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the game.
The Hokies return to action on Saturday, Feb, 7 as they host Florida State at 3 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum.
For updates on Virginia Tech men's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_MBBall
