January 2, 2002

Despite placing four players in double figures, Virginia Tech was unable to overcome 29 points by UConn's Caron Butler and thus lost to the Huskies 86-74 in front of 2,581 fans at Cassell Coliseum on Wednesday night. The game marked the BIG EAST opener for both teams.

Tech is now 6-7 on the year, with an 0-1 mark in the BIG EAST. UConn improved to 7-2, 1-0.

Tech trailed the entire game, but never let UConn run away with the game. In fact, trailing by 12 with six minutes to go, the Hokies went on a 6-0 run and cut the lead to 73-67 on two free throws by Brian Chase with 4:06 to go in the game.

But on the Huskies' next possession, Butler buried a jumper to push the lead to eight. The Hokies twice had chances to cut into that lead, but Carlos Dixon - in his first game since game back since re-injuring a stress fracture against Murray State - missed jumpers on back-to-back possessions. Butler's two free throws with 2:42 left gave UConn a 10-point lead and the Hokies got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

"We had our chances but we were playing catch-up the whole game," Chase said. "Butler came up big for them. He made some tough shots that swung the momentum. We kept battling, but we came up short."

Tech was victimized by poor shooting and poor defense. The Hokies shot just 33.8 percent from the floor and allowed UConn to shot 57.1 percent - a season high against Tech. The Hokies did outrebound UConn 40-36, including 22 offensive rebounds.

Terry Taylor led Tech with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Carlton Carter and Chase each added 16, while Dixon finished with 12.

"I was pleased with our effort," Tech head coach Ricky Stokes said. "Particularly coming off the Florida State game [a 78-49 loss]. We wanted to limit their offensive rebounds and we did a good job of that, but we also wanted to get back in transition and we didn't do that [UConn had 18 fastbreak points].

"And Butler is terrific. We didn't have an answer for him."

The Hokies continue BIG EAST action this Saturday when Seton Hall comes to town. Tip-off is slated for noon.