Hokies’ next basketball game is postponed
Virginia Tech’s contest Tuesday at North Carolina has been called off because of a positive coronavirus test and subsequent quarantining and contact tracing within Tech’s program.
Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball game scheduled for Tuesday at North Carolina has been postponed because of a positive coronavirus test and subsequent quarantining and contact tracing within Tech’s program.
The 18th-ranked Hokies (14-4, 8-3 ACC) had been remarkably free of coronavirus issues this season until Saturday, though because of some opponents’ protocols, their schedule shows one canceled game (against Temple) and three previous postponed contests.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
No. 17 Florida State 92, Wake Forest 85 (OT)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State had the depth and made the clutch plays yet again, pulling off an overtime victory to extend its home winning streak to 23 games.
RaiQuan Gray had career highs in points (24) and rebounds (12) as FSU survived an upset bid by the Demon Deacons.
The Seminoles tied it at 80 when Scottie Barnes drove the length of the floor and made a reverse layup with less than a second to go in regulation.
That set up FSU in the extra period; the Seminoles have tied a national record by winning 11 straight overtime games.
Gray, who made all 10 of his free throws, and scored the Seminoles’ first four points in overtime. The redshirt junior forward scored in double figures for the sixth straight game and had his second double-double in a month for the Seminoles (11-3, 7-2 ACC), who were playing their first game in two weeks due to coronavirus issues.
Playing without starting center Balsa Koprivica, the 6-foot-8 Gray was often the Seminoles’ tallest player on the court and did a little bit of everything — even adding four assists and three steals.
“He got some tough rebounds,” coach Leonard Hamilton said. “He was our big guy. He stepped up and gave us a major contribution.”
Jonah Antonio scored a career-high 23 points, drilling 7 of 8 shots from 3-point range, for Wake Forest (6-9, 3-9). Antonio had the best 3-point shooting game in Wake history with a minimum of eight attempts from long range. He was 23 of 62 (37.1 percent) from deep coming into Saturday’s game. Ian DuBose, one of three Wake players who fouled out, added 18 points.
Duke 69, N.C. State 53
RALEIGH, N.C. — Matthew
Hurt scored 24 points, and Duke took over with a 22-3 first-half run.
Freshman Mark Williams, a former Norfolk Academy standout, added season highs of 13 points and five blocks for the Blue Devils (8-8, 6-6 ACC), who had lost three straight and six of eight. Yet Duke led the entire way after the opening minute in a venue where the Blue Devils had lost four of five, including a burst of 14 unanswered during its big run that decided the game.
Freshman Shakeel Moore had 13 points to lead the Wolfpack (8-9, 4-8). N.C. State has lost eight of 10 games, along with having two postponed, since the start of 2021.
Duke is facing an uphill climb to avoid missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1995, but the Blue Devils had no trouble against the Wolfpack.
Seven players scored during their big run, which ended with DJ Steward’s 3-pointer followed by a floater in the lane by Jeremy Roach to make it 33-13 with 6:11 left before halftime. Duke shot 51%, including 9 of 18 from 3-point range.
That included a 6-for-7 showing from Hurt, who had missed 17 of 22 3-pointers through the previous five games. The 6-foot-9 sophomore, who entered as the ACC’s No. 2 scorer at 17.7 points, made his first six shots overall and 8 of 10 for the game.
Syracuse 75, Boston College 67
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Joe Girard scored 16 points, leading five Orange players in double figures.
Girard scored seven of Syracuse’s first 16 points as the Orange (12-6, 6-5 ACC) built an early 10-point lead.
Alan Griffin had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Marek Dolezaj and Buddy Boeheim scored 13 apiece for Syracuse. Quincy Guerier added 12 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Syracuse improved to 10-1 at the Carrier Dome this season.
Rich Kelly scored 14 points, hitting four 3-pointers, to lead Boston College (3-13, 1-9).
LATE FRIDAY
Clemson 74, Ga. Tech 72
CLEMSON, S.C. — Aamir Simms tied his career high with 25 points, and Nick Honor banked in a 3-pointer from NBA range with 1.1 seconds left for the Tigers (13-5, 7-5 ACC).
Clemson has won three in a row and four of its last five to boost its NCAA hopes. Michael Devoe led Georgia Tech (9-8, 5-6) with 23 points, six assists and a career-high five steals.