Junior guard Erick Green scored 24 points to lead Virginia Tech to a 78-67 win over upset-minded Rhode Island on Wednesday.
Green was one of four players who scored in double figures for the Hokies (6-4), who broke a two-game losing streak. Green made 10 of 14 shots from the field and fell one point shy of his season high accomplished at Minnesota. Jarell Eddie scored 15, with Cadarian Raines getting 12 and freshman Dorian Finney-Smith adding 11.
Rhode Island (1-8) lost its fifth straight game despite a 23-point effort from Nikola Malesevic. The Rams also got 11 points from Jamal Wilson and 10 from Jonathan Holton.
Virginia Tech held a slim 28-27 lead at halftime – it has held the halftime lead in every game this season – and rebuffed numerous offensive thrusts by the Rams. Rhode Island, which beat the Hokies in the 2010 NIT, now leads the series 6-5.
Virginia Tech | Rhode Island | |
Erick Green 24 | Scoring | Nikola Malesevic 23 |
Dorenzo Hudson 4 | Assists | Mike Powell 5 |
C.J. Barksdale 7 | Rebounds | Jonathan Holton 7 |
Dorenzo Hudson 4 | Free Throws Made | Nikola Malesevic 8 |
Erick Green 3 | Steals | Nikola Malesevic 2 |
Dorian Finney-Smith 3 | Blocks | Nikola Malesevic 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Virginia Tech | 78 | 54.5 | 7-16 | 11-13 | 17 | 30 | 5 | 9 | |
Rhode Island | 67 | 40.0 | 2-11 | 21-24 | 10 | 24 | 4 | 5 |