Trailing by one with just over five minutes to go, Malcolm Delaney and Erick Green went on a 9-0 run over the next four minutes to help push the Hokies past Maryland 91-83 on Tuesday night at Cassell Coliseum. Delaney and Green combined for 42 points as the Hokies won for the 13th time in their last 16 games to improve to 17-7 on the season and 7-4 in the ACC, a full game ahead of Boston College and Clemson for fourth place in the ACC.
Neither team had led by more than five in the second half before the 9-0 run from Tech. Delaney hit two free throws to give the Hokies their first lead at 77-76 to start the run, and then hit a jumper with 4:36 left to put the Hokies up three. After a missed three-pointer from Maryland, Green nailed a three-pointer from the wing as the shot clock expired to put the Hokies up 82-76 with 3:24 to play. Delaney added two free throws with 1:14 left to give Tech their largest lead of the second half at 84-76.
However, Maryland made a run in the game's final minute when a three from Dino Gregory put the Terps within five. Jeff Allen then threw the ball away on the ensuing possession, but Terrell Stoglin missed a chip shot layup and was forced to foul Allen. After an exchange of free throws saw the Hokies up five, Terrell Bell was fouled with 39 seconds left, but only made one of two, placing Tech's lead at 87-81. Stoglin hit two free throws and then forced a five-second call on the inbounds play to give the Terps the chance to cut it to one possession. However, Adrian Bowie missed a tough layup and Bell secured the rebound. Delaney would add four free throws, sandwiched around a missed three-pointer from Stoglin, to seal the contest and the eight-point victory.
Despite a horrid 3-of-14 shooting night, Delaney led the Hokies with 22 points, thanks to a perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line. Contrary to other big games, Delaney was money in clutch time, nailing eight free throws in the game's final five minutes. Green played well for the second time against Maryland, adding 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including two clutch three-pointers down the stretch.
The other three starters also reached double figures for the second straight game, as the Hokies got just three bench points on three free throws. Bell had his best game of the season going 5-of-5 (career high)from beyond the arc to finish with 16 points, The senior wing also added eight rebounds. Allen recorded his sixth straight double-double with 16 points and 11 boards, but this one might have been the most impressive. Playing with two fouls for the final eight minutes of the first half, Allen picked up just one foul the rest of the game while guarding Jordan Williams for a majority of the time. Victor Davila hit his first seven shots from the field and tied his season high with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
As a team, the Hokies shot 45 percent and nailed nine three-pointers. The Hokies had assists on 19 of their 29 baskets Tuesday night. Tech forced 15 Maryland turnovers, including eight in the second half, and scored 17 points off of them, compared to the two points the Terps scored off nine Hokies turnovers. Tech turned the ball over just twice in the second half, both in the last minute. The Hokies also beefed up their rebounding game in the second half, garnering 12 offensive rebounds in the game while outrebounding Maryland 35-33.
Stoglin had a career high 25 points for the Terps, 15 of which came in the first half. Tech held the big man Williams to just 16 points and 9 rebounds, his third consecutive game without a double-double.
The Hokies now hit the road for their next two games, both of which are definitely winnable. The first contest comes on Saturday in a rematch against UVA. Tip-off from Charlottesville is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.
