A 15-5 run to begin the second half gave Clemson separation, and the Tigers held off a couple of Virginia Tech rallies en route to a 69-60 win to end the regular season for both teams.
An 16-3 Clemson run in the first half pushed the Tigers (20-10, 9-7 ACC) to an early 15-point bulge, but the Hokies rallied to within four at 34-30 at the half. Clemson’s strong second-half start left the Tigers up 49-35 at the 11:29 mark. The closest that Virginia Tech (19-10, 9-7 ACC) would get the rest of the way would be seven points.
The loss was the second in a row for Tech following its 64-60 upset of then-#1 Duke last weekend and puts the Hokies back on the NCAA Tournament bubble with three losses in their last five games.
The loss also pushes Virginia Tech out of a first-round ACC Tournament bye. Tech will either be the #5 or #6 seed in next week’s conference tournament. The Hokies may need a win in the first round and then the next day against either third-seeded Florida State or fourth-seeded Clemson to boost their NCAA hopes.
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