BOXSCORE

The Hokies wrapped up their home schedule with a 69-61 victory over the clemson tigers on SENIOR DAY! And my, what a day it was for Tech’s senior starter, Erick Green. Erick scored 17 first half points on his way to 29 points in his final game at the Cassell and chants of “Green Machine” filled the Coliseum as he iced the game away from the line. Green was 8/12 from the field and an amazing 5/7 from behind the arc. Erick now has 1,667 career points. He is just 40 points away from surpassing Ace Custis and entering the VT Top 10 scoring list.

HATS OFF TO YOU, MR. GREEN! It has been a pleasure watching you these last six years (since he committed to VT during his junior year at Millbrook HS on his way to a state title).

And major props to the hundreds of fans that wore green to honor Erick Green! That was awesome. It was a great crowd tonight (although a small crowd – just 5,100) from start to buzzer from the fans that were there.

C.J. Barksdale had another great game with 14 points. He’s averaged over 14 ppg in his last 4 games (he had scored just 21 total points in his previous 9 games).

Robert Brown added an ACC career high of 13 points on 6/8 FGs (11 points in the first half).

The Hokies shot an amazing 63% from the field in the first half on their way to an 11-point lead at the break, 36-25. That was thanks in part to a 14-4 run that turned a 15-11 deficit into a 25-19 lead with 7:30 left in the first half. The 11-point halftime lead was Tech’s largest halftime lead in ACC play and their biggest lead at the break since the vmi game (game #3 back in November).

They led by as many as 15 in the second half until clemson utilized a full court trap-press. Tech started turning the ball over at will and the tigers took advantage, going on an 8-0 run to cut the VT lead to 3 at 46-43 with 11:30 to go. clemson would score on 7 straight possessions and get within 2, but no closer and the Hokies held on to win.

Once again free throws were key for VT. They hit 9/10 in the final 2:12 to keep clemson in the rear view mirror (it was a 3-point game most of the final 2 minutes).

Tech shot 55% from the field for the game and 6/13 (46%) on 3s. The only negative for the Hokies was their inability to handle the clemson press in the 2nd half, and as a result, committing 16 turnovers (5 by Brown and 4 by Green).

The home team has now won 6 straight in this series (and VT won at a neutral site, the ACC Tourney, last year).

clemson was without stud K.J. McDaniels who had 5 dunks at VT last year and 17 points in the first meeting at clemson, including 5/7 on 3s.

Milton Jennings, who had 28 in the game at clemson, was held to 13 tonight. Devin Booker led clemson with 17.

Tech finishes the season 10-7 at the Cassell (3-6 in ACC play). They have two ACC road games remaining with duke on Tuesday and wake on Sunday.