February 22, 2006

Virginia Tech-Miami box score

Miami 70, Virginia Tech 59

 

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Virginia Tech got off to a slow start and never recovered, falling to the Miami Hurricanes 70-59 in an ACC game played Wednesday night at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

With the loss, Tech lost for the third straight time and fell to 13-13 overall on the season, 3-10 in the ACC. Miami snapped a four-game losing streak - all against ranked opponents - and improved to 15-12 overall, 7-7 in the league.

Tech coach Seth Greenberg did not start guards Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon after the two failed to fulfill a team commitment after the N.C. State game. The two entered the game midway through the first half, but by then, the Hokies trailed and Tech never recovered.

The Hokies trailed by as many as 15 in the first half and by 12 at the break. But at 18-6 run early in the second half cut the Miami lead to 47-45, and the Hokies appeared to be back on track. Tech, however, hit just four field goals the rest of the game - two in the waning moments with the outcome already decided - and never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

"We were bad," Greenberg said on the Virginia Tech/ISP Sports radio network after the game. "We didn't defend. We didn't play with any passion. We didn't take care of the basketball in the second half. We couldn't make a free throw when we had cut the lead to four there. We weren't tough. I really can't find one thing that we did well.

"But we'll do some things well tomorrow in practice, I guarantee that. We're going to keep grinding. This group has got to grow up a little, and it's extremely disappointing to see them act and behave this way. And I take full responsibility. We'll straighten this ship out. If I've got to make mass changes, I'll make them because I'm not pleased with anything at all about this performance."

Miami got a huge game from junior guard Guillermo Diaz, who poured in a season-high 29 points. He hit 10-of-14 from the floor, including three 3-pointers as Miami blistered the nets, shooting 51 percent from the floor, and the 'Canes made 13-of-15 at the free-throw line. Miami also got 11 points from Raymond Hicks and 10 from Anthony Harris.

Tech got 15 points each from Dowdell and A.D. Vassallo, while Collins added 10 points and five boards. The Hokies shot the ball reasonably well at 44 percent and they drilled 7-of-17 from beyond the 3-point arc. But they turned the ball over 12 times, and poor free-throw shooting once against hurt them. Tech made just 10-of-17 from the stripe.

The Hokies will look to snap their recent slide this Saturday when they return home to Cassell Coliseum. Tech takes on Florida State, with the tip-off slated for 7 p.m.