Pack’s late barrage rallies Hurricanes past Hokies
Virginia Tech is 2-8 since 11-1 start
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Nijel Pack had five perfect minutes, and Miami remained perfect at home because of them.
Pack scored all 17 of his points in a six-shot barrage late in the second half that lifted the 23rd-ranked Hurricanes to a 92-83 comeback win over Virginia Tech on Tuesday night.
“We made some good decisions,” Miami coach Jim Larrañaga said. “We scored the ball very, very well during those last four or five minutes.”
Norchad Omier led Miami with 21 points, while Isaiah Wong had 18 and Jordan Miller finished with 14 for the Hurricanes (17-5, 8-4 ACC).
Hunter Cattoor and Sean Pedulla each scored 20 for Virginia Tech, while Grant Basile added 17 and Justyn Mutts finished with 10 for the Hokies (13-9, 3-8).
The Hurricanes improved to 12-0 at home this season, and 5-0 in games immediately after a loss. The last time Miami lost on its home floor was Feb. 26 — to Virginia Tech, which hasn’t won a true road game since.
But for much of Tuesday night, the Hokies looked like they’d end that streak with another victory in Coral Gables. They led by five with 8:20 left, when Miami — led by Pack — hit its best stride of the night.
Pack was scoreless for the game’s first 32 minutes. But his 3-pointer with 7:35 left tied the game at 68 and started an absolute barrage from the sophomore guard from Indianapolis.
He made six consecutive shots in a span of 5:07, five of them 3-pointers, the last of them putting Miami up 84-76 with 2:28 remaining.
It seemed to inspire Miami on the defensive end as well. Virginia Tech shot 29 for 44 — a 66% clip — over the first 35 minutes, then missed its final seven shots from there as the Hurricanes did just enough to prevail.
The Hokies have now lost eight of their past 10 after an 11-1 start to the season.
Virginia Tech will host No. 6 Virginia at noon Saturday.