Virginia Tech vs. Michigan: Score, Reaction for 2016 ACC/Big 10 Challenge

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The Virginia Tech Hokies were outplayed for much of Wednesday's ACC/Big Ten Challenge men's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines but finished with a clutch 21-8 run to earn a 73-70 victory.

Michigan jumped out to a quick lead and didn't relinquish it until there were less than two minutes remaining. It was ahead 62-52 with less than eight minutes left but couldn't close the contest at the Crisler Center.

Virginia Tech moved to 6-1 on the season, while the Wolverines dropped to 5-2 with their first home loss of the campaign.

Justin Bibbs and Seth Allen combined to score Virginia Tech's final 10 points with the game on the line. They each finished with 10 points, while Zach LeDay led the way for the Hokies with 18 points and six rebounds. Virginia Tech also enjoyed a massive advantage at the free-throw line, shooting 19-of-21 compared to Michigan's 4-of-7 mark.

The Wolverines controlled most of the contest with 10 made threes but went cold in the last two minutes. A Duncan Robinson three-pointer represented Michigan's only points during that stretch.

However, his three-point attempt at the buzzer, which would have forced overtime, rimmed out.

Zak Irvin spearheaded the Wolverines offense with 23 points, while Robinson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman recorded 15 and 13, respectively.

Despite the loss, Michigan wasted little time establishing itself at home, taking a 17-4 lead less than seven minutes into the game. Ace Anbender of MGoBlog noted the early threat of Robinson's perimeter shooting opened up the lane for his teammates.

The Wolverines continued their red-hot offensive performance, extending their lead to 29-15 with a beautiful spin move and basket by Abdur-Rahkman.

Brendan F. Quinn of MLive Media Group underscored how efficient Michigan was in the early going:

Everything working for Michigan right now — going to the basket and beyond the arc. Six different scorers accounting for 12 of 18 shooting.

— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) December 1, 2016

Despite being outplayed during the opening 20 minutes, Virginia Tech cut the halftime deficit to 39-30 with a Justin Robinson layup. Even though Michigan hit seven threes in the first half, Virginia Tech continued to answer its runs with timely baskets to stay within striking distance.

"Va. Tech hasn't cut into the lead much, but are very quick to answer every momentum make by U-M," Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press tweeted.

The Hokies started the second half with a 9-2 spurt of their own to trim the deficit to 41-39, and D.J. Wilson and Mark Donnal each picked up three fouls, which placed strain on the Wolverines' frontcourt depth.

Michigan turned to Irvin and Duncan Robinson to fend off Virginia Tech's charge after its lead shrunk to one point. Irvin attacked the basket and finished in the lane, while Robinson drew a charge and connected on a three to push the advantage back to a more comfortable 50-44.

Anbender praised the sharpshooter's timely defensive play:

Duncan Robinson is still not very good at defense but his knack for taking charges is a plus.

— Ace Anbender (@AceAnbender) December 1, 2016

It appeared to be Michigan's night when Abdur-Rahkman banked in a desperation three from the wing as the shot clock expired to push the lead to 60-50, which Anbender called "about as fortunate a sequence as Michigan could ask for."

Irvin surpassed the 20-point mark and continued to be the clear-cut No. 1 option on the offensive end.

Virginia Tech cut the deficit to 62-56, but LeDay picked up a crucial fourth personal foul with just more than six minutes remaining. LeDay remained in for crunch time and converted an and-1 to trim the Michigan lead to 65-61, but Ahmed Hill fouled out for the Hokies with less than five minutes left.

Wilson fouled out as well, and Kyle Rowland of The Blade was impressed with Virginia Tech's ability to remain in the game down the stretch:

Impressive second half from Virginia Tech. Hokies not going down easy despite big deficit, UM answering VT runs.

— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) December 1, 2016

Not only did the Hokies refuse to go away, but they also seized a 68-67 lead with a commanding 16-5 run. Bibbs drilled a clutch three-pointer from the wing to cut the deficit to one, and Allen hit a layup to give the Hokies the advantage with less than two minutes left.

Allen extended the lead to four with a top-of-the-key three, but Robinson answered with a three of his own to make it 71-70 in the final minute.

Michigan had a chance to win after Allen committed an offensive foul, but Irvin missed his fadeaway jumper after dribbling around looking for a hero-ball shot. Bibbs hit two free throws, and Robinson missed his potential game-tying three at the buzzer.

                                

What's Next?

Michigan has a warm-up contest against Kennesaw State on Saturday before a two-game stretch against Texas and UCLA. Even with Wednesday's loss, it still has an opportunity to rack up some quality nonconference wins before Big Ten play begins.

Virginia Tech now enters a stretch of winnable home games against Maryland-Eastern Shore, Ole Miss, The Citadel, Charleston Southern and Maryland-Baltimore County before its showdown against Duke on Dec. 31. It is attempting to make it to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2006-07 season but needs to take advantage of the lighter opponents before ACC play begins.

                          

Postgame Reaction

Irvin said after the loss, "This one's going to haunt us," per Snyder.

Michigan coach John Beilein said, "We didn't deserve to win the way we played (at end)," per Snyder.

Beilein also talked about Irvin's late shot attempt, per Snyder: "We were trying to isolate him, they took him away, we know what to do in that and we didn't do it."

Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams praised his team's late effort, per Mark Berman of the Roanoke Times: "We played harder, tougher [down the stretch]. We were able to get consecutive stops, which were rare—that led to us being able to play more at the pace we wanted to play at."

LeDay reflected on the win, per Berman: "We just came together, just fought for one another. We're growing as a team. We lost games like this last year."

If the Hokies continue to win them this season, they will be dancing in March.

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