November 24, 2002

Box Score

VT 65, Michigan 53

 

ST. THOMAS, V.I. - Virginia Tech used a strong second half defensive performance to defeat the University of Michigan, 65-53, in men's college basketball action Sunday night in the second round of the Paradise Jam at the UVI Sport and Fitness Center in St. Thomas, V.I.

The lead seesawed back-and-forth throughout much of the first half and the Wolverines took a 31-30 lead into intermission. In the second half, Tech took the lead for good, 41-38, on a three-point field goal by junior guard Carlos Dixon with 15:10 remaining. Michigan cut the lead to 45-44 with 9:34 remaining, but Tech went on a 20-4 run over the next nine minutes to put the game out of reach.

Senior center Terry Taylor led the Hokies with 23 points, including 19 points in the second half. Dixon added 20 points in the victory. Sophomore forward Dimari Thompkins blocked a career-high six shots in the contest. Graham Brown led Michigan with 14 points.

Tech, now 1-1 on the season, committed just 10 turnovers in the game and held the Wolverines to 6 of 29 from the field in the second half. Michigan, now 0-2 on the season, shot just 27.3% from the field on the night and just 16.7% from three-point range.

This is Tech's first-ever victory against Michigan and the schools first win against a Big Ten team since a win against Indiana in the 1967 NCAA Tournament.

Tech will face Toledo in the third-place game of the tournament at 6:15 p.m. AST on Monday evening.