Jaden Schutt scored a career-high 18 points to lead hot-shooting Virginia Tech to a 75-74 victory over Virginia on Saturday in the Commonwealth Clash rivalry in Charlottesville.
Tobi Lawal added 17 points as the Hokies (10-12, 5-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their second straight and ended their five-game losing streak in Charlottesville.
The Hokies won with offensive efficiency as they committed just seven turnovers and hit 52.1 percent of their shots from the floor and 11 of 21 (52.4 percent) from 3-point range.
Virginia Tech retook the lead with 7:44 left in the first half and held it the rest of the way, holding off Virginia down the stretch as Lawal made two baskets in the final 2:36.
Isaac McKneely produced 19 points and seven assists while Andrew Rohde contributed 12 points and seven assists for Virginia (10-12, 3-8).
Dai Dai Ames scored 11 points and Taine Murray added 10 points for the Cavaliers, who made 48.1 percent of their shots from the floor and 8 of 23 (34.8 percent) from 3-point range.
Virginia Tech nearly squandered a 13-point lead in the final 6:12. The Hokies missed four free throws in the final 41 seconds, allowing Virginia to pull close.
After Mylyjael Poteat missed two foul shots with 5.9 seconds left, the Cavaliers had a chance to win it but Rohde’s fast-break runner bounced off the rim at the final buzzer.
The teams combined for more 3-pointers (10) than turnovers (six) in a well-played first half, with the Hokies leading most of the way.
Poteat made two free throws and Tyler Johnson followed with a driving layup as Virginia Tech closed the half with its biggest lead to that point, 38-31.
In the second half, consecutive 3-pointers by Jaydon Young, Ben Burnham and Brandon Rechsteiner in a span of 91 seconds gave the Hokies a 55-46 lead.
Virginia Tech made a nine-point run, culminated by baskets from Lawal and Schutt to take its biggest lead of the game, 69-56, with 6:32 left before Virginia stormed back.
Rohde scored seven points in the final 6:12 to fuel the rally.
–Field Level Media
