Zach LeDay scored 22 points and Justin Bibbs added 16 as Virginia Tech upset in-state rival and No. 4 Virginia, 70-68, in Blacksburg on Monday night.
The win is easily the biggest in Buzz Williams’ tenure with the Hokies, and it came on a night where Virginia Tech was able to break down the vaunted Pack-Line defense of the Cavaliers. Virginia Tech shot 47.1 percent from the floor and hit 9-for-17 from deep.
The Hokies did an excellent job slowing down Malcolm Brogdon, who has been Virginia’s best player this season. He finished with 15 points, but he was 4-for-11 from the floor with four turnovers and much of his damage came in the second half.
In fact, the only time that Virginia really looked like they were playing well in this one was early in the second half, and that was only because London Perrantes got on a roll. He hit six of his seven threes in the second half, and five of those came in the first seven minutes of the half.
Virginia has made a habit out of slow starts, and Monday was no different. They were down 26-21 after an ugly first half. The only difference here was that Perrantes and company were unable to bail the team out at the end of the game.
The game did end in a bit of controversy. With the score 70-68 and just seconds left in the game, there was contact as Perrantes drove to the rim but Shane Henry was not called for a foul due to the principle of verticality. I think they got the call right here: