#15 seed Virginia Tech had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the final seconds, but two missed Joey van Zegeren free throws were the difference in allowing #10 seed Miami to hold on for a 57-53 win in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday.
A Miami turnover with 21.9 seconds left gave Virginia Tech (9-22, 2-17 ACC) the ball down one, 53-52. Miami had two fouls to give before going into a one-and-one situation, and forced Tech to adjust its strategy with a foul at the 10.8-second mark.
Van Zegeren found himself all alone under the basket on the ensuing inbounds play and was fouled from behind. He missed both free throws badly, and Rion Brown grabbed the rebound and was fouled.
Brown sank his two free-throw attempts to push the lead to three. Miami fouled Devin Wilson with 5.7 seconds to go to send him to the foul line, and after making the first , he intentionally missed the second, and Tech forward Jarell Eddie grabbed the rebound. His jumper from the left side of the lane missed, and Erik Swoope made two free throws to seal it.
Virginia Tech led by as many as nine in the first half before Miami (17-15, 8-11 ACC) rallied to within one, at 32-31, at the break.
The Hurricanes led by as many as seven in the second half before Virginia Tech rallied to take the lead with a 10-2 run capped by an Eddie three that made it 52-51 Hokies with 3:26 left.
Eddie scored 16 to lead Virginia Tech, which shot 40 percent from the field, and was outrebounded by the more physical ‘Canes 36-24.
Miami advances to the second round on Thursday to take on NC State (19-12, 9-9 ACC).
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