Scott Dochterman, CR Gazette –
BLACKSBURG, Va. —Virginia Tech buried Iowa with impressive free-throw shooting and countered a mid-second half Iowa run to beat the Hawkeyes 95-79 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge tonight at Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (6-0) knocked down 27 of 30 free-throw attempts and hit 52.5 percent of their shots from the field. They also absorbed a 16-2 Iowa run midway through the second half and put together one of their own to get the win.
Virginia Tech point guard Erick Green met his season average with 24 points. He also had five rebounds and five assists.
Aaron White scored 21 points and Devyn Marble added 18 for Iowa (5-2). It was Iowa’s seventh consecutive loss in Big Ten-ACC Challenge play.
Here’s the first-half-story
Iowa’s ever-evolving defense resembled its 2011-12 version in the first half at Virginia Tech in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
The Hawkeyes trail 46-38 at halftime and have allowed the Hokies (5-0) to hit 15-of-30 from the field. But perhaps even worse, Iowa has 12 fouls and have allowed Virginia Tech to shoot 15 free throws. The Hokies have sank 13.
Iowa (5-1) also has hit 15-of-30 from the field, but Iowa has shot only seven free throws and made only five.
Virginia Tech point guard Erick Green was considered a tough match-up for Iowa, and in the first half he was against Iowa. Green scored eight points and had two assists. Robert Brown also scored eight points for the Hokies.
Iowa’s Aaron White leads all scorers with nine points, three of which came on dunks. Josh Oglesby hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa led 37-36 with 3:14 left in the half on a Devyn Marble drive to the basket. Virginia Tech then went on a 10-0 run with six points coming from the free-throw line.
Virginia Tech has outscored Iowa 9-2 on second-chance opportunities and has outrebounded Iowa 18-14.
