Joey Van Zegeren added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds for Virginia Tech (3-2), which posted its highest point total of the season in snapping a two-game losing streak. The Hokies connected on a season-best 10 3-pointers in 19 attempts, with Smith hitting 5-of-6 from long range.
Zach McCormick had 12 points and Will Sullivan and Eric Washington added nine apiece for Miami (2-3), which turned the ball over 22 times. Second-leading scorer Geovonie McKnight struggled for the second straight game, hitting 2-of-7 shots and finishing with four points.
Virginia Tech took a 39-17 lead into the second half and showed there would be no letdown with Bibbs hitting a 3-pointer 11 seconds into the period. The RedHawks pulled within 43-28 on a McCormick trey, but the Hokies slammed the door with a 24-10 run that gave them their biggest lead at 67-38 with a little more than nine minutes to play.
After a sluggish start on both ends of the floor, Miami took a 7-3 lead, but the Hokies got going and surged ahead 15-9 via a 12-2 run over the ensuing four minutes. The Hokies led 24-15 with a little less than six minutes to play when Smith heated up in a hurry, scoring 13 points in a 15-2 half-closing spree that gave the Hokies their 22-point cushion at the break.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington, Miami’s third leading scorer at 10.3 points, sat out the first half as punishment for showing up late to a team meeting earlier Wednesday. … Virginia Tech, which was on the low end of an 18-3 free-throw differential in Tuesday’s semifinal loss to Northern Iowa, enjoyed an 18-8 advantage Wednesday. … Miami had 20 assists and 34 turnovers in its two Cancun losses.
Miami (OH) | Virginia Tech | |
Zach McCormick 12 | Scoring | Adam Smith 26 |
Eric Washington 6 | Assists | Justin Bibbs 3 |
Chris Bryant 6 | Rebounds | Joey Van Zegeren 9 |
Chris Bryant 4 | Free Throws Made | Justin Bibbs 5 |
Logan McLane 3 | Steals | Malik Muller 2 |
LJ Livingston 2 | Blocks | Jalen Hudson 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Miami (OH) | 63 | 43.4 | 9-18 | 8-13 | 14 | 20 | 4 | 11 | 22 |
Virginia Tech | 78 | 49.0 | 10-19 | 18-24 | 9 | 33 | 4 | 7 | 22 |