In a nail-biter on Tuesday night, the Virginia Tech Hokies fell just short against the Miami Hurricanes, losing 67-66. The Hokies, now 17-10 overall and 6-8 in the ACC, had control for much of the game, leading for over 22 minutes and holding a three-point advantage with just 90 seconds left. However, the Hurricanes, boasting a 21-5 record and 10-3 in conference play, rallied to secure their fourth straight victory.
Miami's Tre Donaldson was the star of the night, delivering a career-high 32 points on 13-for-24 shooting, including three from beyond the arc. His performance was reminiscent of Duke’s Jahlil Okafor’s memorable game against the Hokies back in 2015.
Donaldson was especially dominant in the second half, scoring 24 of Miami’s 36 points and taking over in the clutch. He single-handedly scored the Hurricanes' final 15 points, including two critical three-pointers and the decisive free throw.
Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young acknowledged Donaldson’s prowess, noting, “Tre has been around the block. He’s experienced, strong, and knows how to get fouled. We didn’t have the right matchup for him tonight.”
The Hokies had opportunities to seal the win but faltered after Donaldson’s game-tying three-pointer with 1:18 remaining. A crucial foul by Tobi Lawal with 12.5 seconds left put Donaldson on the line, where he hit one of two free throws to give Miami the edge. Despite a valiant effort, Virginia Tech’s final play fell short as Ben Hammond’s attempt at the buzzer didn’t connect.
Virginia Tech shot an impressive 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range, with 20 assists against 11 turnovers. However, Miami’s free throw advantage (9-for-13 compared to Tech’s 2-for-3) proved decisive. The Hurricanes also edged the Hokies in rebounding, 33-31.
Malik Reneau was less of a factor for Miami, limited by an injury in the second half, while Ernest Udeh Jr. contributed four points and nine rebounds. For the Hokies, Amani Hansberry led with 16 points, supported by contributions from Bedford (12 points) and Hammond (10 points). Lawal, despite foul trouble, added eight points and seven rebounds.
The Hokies have found themselves in tight contests against Miami under Coach Young, with nine of their 13 meetings decided by six points or fewer or going into overtime. Currently sitting on the bubble, Virginia Tech faces a challenging stretch to close the season with games against Wake Forest, No.
16 North Carolina, Boston College, and No. 14 Virginia.
The road ahead is tough, and the Hokies will need to bring their A-game to secure a spot in the postseason.