Hokies go unbeaten in Bubbleville with win over South Florida
UNCASVILLE, CONN. — Tyrece Radford scored 21 points, Cordell Pemsl came off the bench to spark a breakaway run, and Virginia Tech wrapped up a tumultuous two-game stay at Bubbleville with a 76-58 defeat of South Florida Sunday night.
Keve Aluma added 12 points for the Hokies, Hunter Cattoor netted 13, while Pemsl and Cartier Diarra scored 10 each. Virginia Tech shot 54% from the floor, with 11 assists on 27 baskets.
Virginia Tech (3-0) was caught up in the COVID-19 drama at Bubbleville as Temple, originally scheduled as an opponent, went into quarantine after a player tested positive. The Owls were replaced at the last minute with Villanova, ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 poll.
Virginia Tech toppled the Wildcats in overtime.
David Collins scored 10 points for USF’s Bulls (1-2) and, in making 3 of 6 from the free-throw line, he became the all-time leader in career free throws made by an American Athletic Conference player. Collins pushed his total to 438, passing former Cincinnati guard Jarron Cumberland (437).
Caleb Murphy scored 11 points and Michael Durr had 10 points with seven rebounds for USF.
Aluma hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give a 36-23 lead to Tech, which closed with a 15-5 run over the last seven minutes to break open what had been a tight game. Pemsl scored six points in the breakaway run.
The teams had not played since 1995, when both were in the Metro Conference. Tech coach Mike Young had been 0-3 against USF’s Brian Gregory, facing him when the two were at other schools.
VIRGINIA TECH 76, SOUTH FLORIDA 58 VIRGINIA TECH (3-0): Aluma 5-8 0-0 12, Mutts 1-5 1-2 3, Alleyne 2-7 2-2 7, Bede 0-1 0-0 0, Radford 9-12 2-2 21, Cattoor 3-5 6-8 13, Pemsl 4-5 2-2 10, Diarra 3-5 4-5 10, Bamisile 0-2 0-0 0, N’Guessan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-50 17-21 76.
SOUTH FLORIDA (1-2): Durr 5-10 0-0 10, Yetna 3-6 2-2 9, Collins 3-7 3-6 10, Murphy 4-13 3-3 11, Brown 2-6 1-1 5, Castaneda 1-3 2-2 4, Chaplin 0-1 0-0 0, Tchewa 0-2 1-2 1, Williams 1-1 2-2 4, Anderson 1-2 1-2 4, Oduro 0-2 0-0 0, Calleja 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-53 15-20 58.
Half—VT 36-23. 3-point goals—VT 5-16 (Aluma 2-3, Alleyne 1-3, Cattoor 1-3, Radford 1-3, Bamisile 0-1, Diarra 0-1, Mutts 0-2), USF 3-10 (Collins 1-1, Anderson 1-2, Yetna 1-2, Durr 0-1, Murphy 0-1, Brown 0-3). Fouled out—Mutts, Durr. Rebounds—VT 28 (Mutts 9), USF 22 (Durr, Yetna 7). Assists—VT 11 (Bede, Diarra 3), USF 5 (Murphy 2). Fouls—VT 19, USF 23.