Hokies edge Cavaliers

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — A.D Vassallo scored 29 points and Malcolm Delaney added 24 as Virginia Tech held on to beat Virginia 78-75 on Saturday.

The Hokies (10-5, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) led on 64-49 with 5:23 left, but Mustapha Farrakhan came off the bench and hit four 3-pointers in the final 5 minutes as the Cavaliers (7-6, 1-1) closed quickly.

Farrakhan's fourth 3, with 49.7 seconds left, pulled Virginia to 72-70, but Vassallo's jumper pushed the lead back to four. After Sylven Landesberg's driving basket for Virginia, Vassallo made two free throws with 9.3 seconds left, putting the Hokies ahead 76-72.

A 3-pointer by Jamil Tucker kept it interesting by pulling Virginia to 76-75 with 2.6 seconds to go, but Vassallo hit two more free throws with 1.9 seconds left and Sammy Zeglinski's three-quarter court heave at the buzzer was well off the mark, ending it.

Landesberg led Virginia with 20 points, Farrakhan had 17 and Mike Scott had 16.

Farrakhan made three free throws to pull Virginia within 70-65 with 2:16 remaining, but Delaney swished a 15-footer at the other end.

After the Hokies ran down the clock and then turned it over, Farrakhan hit his final 3 with 49.7 seconds left, making it a 2-point game that Vassallo then took over.

For the Hokies, even with students not due back for classes until Jan. 20, the return home was especially welcome since their last game was a 69-44 drubbing at No. 2 Duke.

The game was close throughout the first half until the Hokies finished with an 11-2 run over the final 4 minutes. Vassallo had six points in the run and Delaney a 3-pointer.