Wake Forest University
Virginia Tech
Deacs Fall to Virginia Tech 81-74 in Home Finale
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@TieDyeNation)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- The Wake Forest men's basketball fell to Virginia Tech, 81-74 on Sunday Night at the LJVM Coliseum. The Hokies used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to jump out to a nine-point lead that they would never relinquish.
Despite the loss, seniors Codi Miller-McIntyre and Devin Thomas each turned in strong performances on Senior NIght, combining to shoot 12-of-16 from the floor.
Miller-McIntyre led the Deacs in scoring, totaling 19 points on 7-of-10 from the floor, also going a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Thomas recorded his most efficient shooting game of the season, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 from the field.
After scoring a career-high 32 points against Wake Forest on January 13, sophomore guard Justin Bibbs again led the Hokies with 20 points on Sunday night.
The Demon Deacons jumped out to a quick 6-0 run to begin the game. However, the Hokies countered with an 8-0 run midway through the first half to take a 27-20 lead, their largest of the half. The Deacs were able to quickly respond with two 3-pointers from Mitchell Wilbekin that sparked a 16-10 Wake run to close the half down only one, 37-36.
In the first half, Wake Forest was paced by a perimeter attack, with guards scoring 27 out of 36 first-half points.
Despite forcing eight first-half Hokie turnovers, Virginia Tech was on fire from deep, making six first-half threes, including three from Bibbs.
The game was tied at 44-44 with 14:15 to go in the game when the Hokies used a 9-0 run to gain a lead that they never gave up.
Wake Forest clawed back to cut the lead to three on two Miller-McIntyre free throws with three minutes to play. However, on their next possession, Virginia Tech's Justin Robinson hit a three from the corner and Wake committed turnovers on their next two possessions to halt their late rally.
The Deacons will conclude their regular season slate on Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m., as they head to Durham to take on Duke. The Blue Devils took the two teams' previous matchup 91-75 on January 6.
SENIOR NIGHT
- Seniors Codi Miller-McIntyre, Grant O'Brien, Stephen Prendergast, Devin Thomas and Andre Washington were honored before the start of the game.
-Miller-McIntyre, O'Brien, Prendergast, and Thomas started in their final home game at the LJVM Coliseum. It was the first career start for O'Brien and Prendergast.
-Miller-McIntyre led the Demon Deacons with 19 points on the night.
DEVIN THOMAS' RETURN
-Devin Thomas ended his senior night with 1 block which now gives him 140 in his career. Thomas is now tied with Antawn Scott (1999-2002) with 140 career blocks.
-Thomas also moved up the record books in career points. Ending the night with 13 points, Thomas has now passed Jack Williams (1953-1957) in career points scored with a total of 1,458.
BRYANT'S BIG NIGHT
-Bryant Crawford was one of four Demon Deacons to score in double figures against the Hokies. He finished with 16 points on the night.
-Crawford tied his career-high of six rebounds for the third time this season.
-Crawford dished out a team-high seven assists against the Hokies. This marks the fourth consecutive game in which he has notched at least five assists, his longest such streak of the season. The seven assists from Crawford ties his ACC career high.
FRESHMEN ON THE GLASS
-Bryant Crawford and John Collins pulled down six rebounds apiece to lead the Demon Deacons.
-Crawford's six boards tied a career-high, and Collins was just one shy of his career-high of seven.
BUCKETS OFF THE BENCH
- Mitchell Wilbekin became the 24th Demon Deacon this season to score in double figures off the bench. He finished with 11 points on the night.
-The Wake Forest bench accounted for 26 of the Demon Deacon's 74 total points.
