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Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Feb 8, 2025 3:49 pm

Free throws secure Virginia Tech’s comeback win vs. Notre Dame

virginia tech notre dame

Backup guard Brandon Rechsteiner converted seven of eight free throws in the final 32 seconds as Virginia Tech rallied for a 65-63 win over Notre Dame Saturday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.

Tobi Lawal produced 15 points and 10 rebounds to pace Virginia Tech (11-13, 6-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), which trailed by 11 points with just over 12 minutes to play. Rechsteiner added 12 points stepping in for foul-prone Ben Hammond and Ben Burnham posted 10 points off the bench as the Hokies won their third straight road game.

Markus Burton led Notre Dame (10-13, 4-8) with 23 points and three steals but he missed a key four-minute stretch of the second half with an injury above his left eye. Tae Davis added 18 points and eight rebounds while Braeden Shrewsberry, the team’s No. 3 point-producer at 14.3 per game, was held scoreless on 0-for-8 shooting.

When Burton cashed his only 3-pointer of the day with 14 minutes to play, he lifted the Irish to a 42-32 lead. But less than 30 seconds later, Burton subbed out and walked into the team’s locker room with a towel over his head.

Notre Dame went up 46-35 with 12:12 to go and still led by nine when Burton returned to the bench at the 10:59 mark holding an ice pack above his left eye.

Virginia Tech then scored five straight points to close within 48-43 and prompt a Fighting Irish timeout to get Burton back in the game. Burton hit a 14-foot pull-up for the game’s next basket, but the Hokies kept closing in.

Lawal’s putback dunk with 3:06 to play gave Virginia Tech a 55-54 edge – its first lead since Lawal’s alley-oop slam to open the game. Burnham added a corner 3 with 2:01 left before Rechsteiner preserved the lead from the free throw line.

The Hokies made just two of their first 15 field-goal attempts as Notre Dame’s man-to-man defense limited the visitors’ open shots and forced four turnovers. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish reeled off a 12-0 run to build an 18-4 lead as freshman Sir Mohammed supplied a basket and two assists.

Virginia Tech responded with eight straight points to cut its deficit to 18-12 at the 8:24 mark. Tyler Johnson sank the game’s first 3-pointer with 6:40 left to help the Hokies pull within 20-15.

Burton scored six points in the final three minutes of the half as the Irish seized a 33-26 lead at the break.

–Field Level Media

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