January 15, 2002

Villanova forward Brooks Sales' stickback with 1.5 seconds left in the game enabled the Wildcats to escape with a 77-75 BIG EAST win over the Hokies in front of 5,616 fans at Cassell Coliseum.

The loss marked Tech's six straight and ninth in the Hokies' past 10 games. The Hokies are now 6-11, 0-5 in the BIG EAST. Villanova improved to 10-4, 3-2 in the league.

Tech tied the game at 75 on a free throw by Terry Taylor with 34 seconds left in the game. After a timeout, Villanova went inside to Ricky Wright, who missed a short jumper with three seconds left. Tech's Carlos Dixon got a piece of the rebound, but Sales corralled it and put it in with 1.5 to go. The Hokies tried to get a shot off at the horn but Brian Chase's halfcourt attempt didn't draw iron.

Tech outshot (43.1-42.6), outrebounded 35-34 and committed fewer turnovers (14-16) than Villanova. But the Wildcats won largely because of a terrific performance by Gary Buchanan, who scored a career-high 34 points on 10-of-20 from the floor, including 6-of-11 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Carlos Dixon paced four Tech players in double figures with a career-high 25 points. Taylor added 14, while Chase finished with 13 and Eric Branham had 10.

Tech now hits the road for three straight BIG EAST games. The Hokies play this Sunday at Boston College. Tip-off is slated for noon.