February 28, 2004

Virginia Tech-WVU box score

Virginia Tech 53, WVU 49

 

Tech standout Bryant Matthews scored 22 of his game-high 28 points in the second half and the Hokies put forth their best defensive effort of the season in knocking off border rival West Virginia 53-49 in a BIG EAST game played at Cassell Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, Tech improved to 12-13 overall and 5-9 in the BIG EAST, and for the first time since joining the BIG EAST, the Hokies beat a league team twice in one season. Tech also swept WVU in a season for the first time since the 1979-80 season.

More importantly, Tech solidified its chances of making the BIG EAST tournament. The only way the Hokies do not make the 12-team tournament is if they lose their final two games and Miami wins its final two (at Villanova and West Virginia at home). Only the top 12 teams in the 14-team league to go Madison Square Garden.

"Nothing is guaranteed right now," Tech coach Seth Greenberg said. "We've still got work to do, but we've won four straight at home and we've got a chance to have a winning record this season. Our goal is to get to New York City. But getting there with a 14-13 record would be better than getting there with a 12-and-whatever record."

Tech got to 12 wins because of its defense. The Hokies held West Virginia to just six baskets in the second half, including two in the first 18 minutes of the second half - both by power forward Kevin Pittsnogle, who led the Mountaineers with 22 points.

Tech trailed by four at halftime and by six early in the second half. But the Hokies went on a 9-2 run to take their first lead of the game, 31-30, on a jumper by Matthews with 12:36 left in the game.

Pittsnogle hit a 3-pointer on WVU's next possession, but the Mountaineers went the next 10:23 without connecting from the field, scoring just six points on six free throws in that span. Tech grabbed a seven-point lead in that span and then salted the game away by hitting five of six free throws in the final 22.5 seconds.

For the game, West Virginia shot 32.6 percent from the floor - Tech's best defensive effort against a BIG EAST team this season.

"We wanted to get 40 minutes of defensive effort and we did," Greenberg said. "When you contend shots and defend, you've always got a chance, no matter how bad you are on offense."

"They overplay and they're just quicker than we are at every position," WVU coach John Beilein said. "They're physical with you. And we can't drive by people when the game is physical. But sometimes, that's how the game is called.

"I'm proud of my team. We executed. We just can't make a shot right now."

Matthews, who was recognized on Senior Day as Tech celebrated Senior Day on Saturday even though the Hokies play one more game at home, played brilliantly for Tech in the second half. After going 1-for-7 in the first half - a microcosm of Tech's team, which made just six baskets in the first 20 minutes - Matthews hit 6-of-8 from the floor in the second half and he nailed his free throws, connecting on 12-of-15 for the game.

Matthews' biggest basket came in the final minute. With Tech clinging to a two-point lead, 45-43, he canned a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down, giving the Hokies a 48-43 with 1:05 left, and West Virginia never recovered.

"I didn't know how much time was left [on the shot clock]," Matthews said. "I was just open, so I shot it. I think the difference in the second half for me was that I got the ball and made some shots and made my free throws."

Tech also got a tremendous contribution from seldom-used reserve Shawn Harris. The sophomore from Ettrick, Va., scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench. Harris did not play in Tech's previous game against BC and had scored just eight points since coming back from a suspension - a span of four games.

"I called him into my office after that BC game and told him that we were going to need his toughness against West Virginia," Greenberg said. "He gave it to us. He was the difference in the first half because he brought us energy and gave us hope. Shawn got an opportunity and he opened his arms and embraced it."

Tech shot just 34 percent from the floor. But the Hokies outrebounded the Mountaineers 35-33 and forced 17 WVU turnovers. In an ugly game, the two teams combined for 42 fouls and 46 free-throw attempts.

"Regardless of whether it was ugly or not, it was a good win," Harris said.

The Hokies now gear up for a rematch with a Rutgers, which hammered Tech in an earlier meeting in Piscataway, N.J. The Scarlet Knights come to Blacksburg for a game next Wednesday night. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.