December 30, 2000

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech used clutch shooting in the final seconds of regulation and the first overtime to defeat High Point, 84-75, in double overtime in men's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Cassell Coliseum.

Joe Hamilton hit a three-pointer with :06 remaining in regulation to tie the game at 55-55 and Carlos Dixon hit a three-point basket as time expired in the first overtime period to knot the score at 63-63. Tech then outscored the Panthers, 21-12 in the second extra session for the win. High Point took a 20-19 lead into intermission and led by as many as seven points in the first half.

Bryant Matthews led the Hokies with a career-high 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Dixon added 20 points, six assists and five steals in the win. Carlton Carter recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Hamilton and Chris Exilus added 10 points each for Tech. Dustin Van Weerdhuizen led the Panthers with 21 points. Dixon was 6-of-10 from three-point range for the game.

Tech shot 20-of-24 from the line in the game, including 10-of-13 in the two extra periods. The Hokies outrebounded High Point, 46-39 and held the Panthers to 39.7% from the floor.

Tech, now 6-5 on the season, opens BIG EAST play Wednesday night, as they travel to New York to face St. John's at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall. High Point falls to 4-9.