Hokies stun No. 3 Spartans
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Landers Nolley II peeled off a screen and, without hesitation, let a three-pointer fly from the wing. The ball dropped in, giving Virginia Tech the cushion it needed to hold off No. 3 Michigan State.
One big shot, one massive victory for the Hokies.
Nolley hit that crucial three-pointer in the final minute and scored 22 points, helping Virginia Tech outlast the Spartans 71-66 at the Maui Invitational on Monday in Lahaina, Hawaii.
“They believed in me,” Nolley said. “And I hit the shot.”
Virginia Tech (6-0) had low expectations — at least outside the program — in coach Mike Young’s first season in Blacksburg, picked to finish 14th in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll.
The Hokies grinded through a back-and-forth second half before going up 10 with 41⁄2 minutes left. Michigan State fought back to pull within one, but Nolley responded with a three for a 68-64 lead with 47 seconds left.
Virginia Tech made just enough free throws down the stretch to earn a spot in Tuesday’s semifinal against Dayton. The Flyers beat Georgia 80-61 on Monday.
“That’s a really good player making a big league play,” Young said. “It probably went a long way in getting us out of here with a win.”
Michigan State (3-2) trailed 32-28 at halftime after preseason All-American
Cassius Winston was limited to eight minutes because of two fouls.
Winston helped spark a late run, but the Spartans couldn’t finish it off. Aaron Henry led Michigan State with 18 points, and Winston was held to seven on two-foreight shooting.
Michigan State has had a rough start to the season. The preseason Associated Press No. 1, the Spartans lost starting guard Joshua
Langford to a foot injury before the first game, and a week later, Winston’s brother, Zachary, was hit and killed by a train.
“He was a shell of himself today,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said of Winston. “I think it’s been a lot on him. I couldn’t have gone through what that kid has gone through. No way. He just looked tired the whole time.”
Michigan State lost its opening game to No. 9 Kentucky but bounced back with three straight wins, including a hard-fought victory at No. 13 Seton Hall.
Virginia Tech has a revamped roster under Young, who took over after Buzz Williams left for Texas A&M.
No. 4 Kansas 93, Chaminade 63: Devin Dotson scored 19 points, Udoka Azubuike added 15 and the Jayhawks (4-1) cruised to a victory over the Division II Silverswords (2-1) at the Maui Invitational. Kansas is a two-time Maui champion.
at No. 10 Ohio State 71, Kent State 52: Kaleb Wesson scored 17 points, and the Buckeyes (6-0) recovered after a second-half rally by the Golden Flashes (5-1) to pull away.
at No. 17 Tennessee 58, Chattanooga 46: Lamonte Turner had 17 points and 12 assists as the Volunteers (5-0) beat the Mocs (3-3) to extend the longest active home winning streak in Division I to 30 games.
No. 18 Auburn 84, New Mexico 59: Samir Doughty scored 19 points to lead the Tigers (6-0) to a rout of the Lobos (5-2) in the Legends Classic at Barclays Center in New York. Auburn will meet Richmond — which beat Wisconsin 62-52 — in the title game Tuesday.
at No. 20 Virginia Commonwealth 78, Alabama State 62: Marcus Evans scored 25 points, and the Rams (6-0) closed the first half on a big run in a victory over the Hornets (0-5).