November 29, 2002

Terry Taylor scored a game-high 21 points and Carlos Dixon added 16 as the Hokies held off a pesky American team 69-61 in front of 3,560 fans at Cassell Coliseum in the Hokies' home opener.

With the win, Tech improved to 3-1, while American fell to 0-3.

The Hokies led by one at halftime and then expanded it to 11, 53-42, when Taylor scored at the 12:30 mark of the second half. But Tech scored just one basket the next eight minutes - by Taylor on a three-point play - and saw its lead cut to three when American's Steven Miles converted a three-point play with 4:38 left to make the score 56-53 in favor of Tech.

Tech then got a 3-pointer by Brian Chase with 4:17 left in the game, and after a turnover by American, Bryant Matthews broke free in the open court for a vicious slam with 3:48 to go. Tech led 61-53 at that point and converted all eight of its free-throw attempts in the final 2:20 to preserve the win. American came no closer than four the rest of the game.

"They're a disciplined team and they can shoot it," said Dixon, who also grabbed four rebounds, blocked three shots and dished out seven assists, one short of his career high. "They won their conference last year, so we knew they were going to be tough. We knew we had to come out and play hard until the end to get the 'W.'"

Taylor led the way, hitting 9-of-14 from the floor and grabbing 10 rebounds. He and Dixon shot 15-of-26 from the floor, but the Hokies as a team shot just 41.7 percent.

Tech, though, relied on its defense again. The Hokies held American to just 40 percent from the floor - no opponent has shot better than 41.7 percent against Tech this season. And Tech committed just nine turnovers, compared to 15 assists.

Dimari Thompkins added 12 points for Tech, while Bryant Matthews finished with 10. Glenn Stokes led American with 19 points.

The Hokies now prepare for Wofford, which comes to Cassell Coliseum on Monday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.