Class of ‘07 Greatest Games #16-20

     The 2010-2011 basketball season kicks off this Friday in Cassell Coliseum with the third annual Late Night with the Hokies.  Three years ago, we met the Class of 2007: Jeff Allen from Washington, DC, Terrell Bell from Stone Mountain, GA, Malcolm Delaney from Baltimore, MD, Dorenzo Hudson from Charlotte, NC, Hank Thorns from Las Vegas, NV, and JT Thompson from Monroe, NC.  They took over for departing legends Zabian Dowdell, Jamon Gordon, and Coleman Collins, and although Hank Thorns has left and JT Thompson will have to sit out a year, the Class of ‘07 will have a chance to go down as one of the greatest in Virginia Tech basketball history.  They’ve played a combined 13,125 minutes on the court and already been a part of some of the biggest wins in Virginia Tech history.  Counting down to Late Night with the Hokies on Friday, I take a look at 20 of the greatest games over the past three years.

#20 – February 6, 2010, Blacksburg, VA

Hokies 70 Clemson 59

Highlights

I’m starting off with one of the biggest head scratchers of the past three seasons.  Playing against the Tigers in Cassell, the Hokies had only 5 assists, shot 31% from the field, and were outrebounded 35-47.  And won. By 11.  It was one of the most statistically odd and visually ugly basketball games you’ll ever see.  Tech made only 4 field goals in the first half, yet took a 2 point lead into the locker room thanks to shooting 20-of-25 from the free throw line.  The Hokies would pick up the pace in the second half, outscoring the Tigers by 9 en route to a 70-59 victory.  It wasn’t pretty, but it was an example of how the 2009-2010 team just found ways to win (25 times).

#19 – February 16, 2010, Blacksburg, VA

Hokies 87 #23 Wake Forest 83

Highlights

Fast forward just over a week and the Hokies are riding a 4 game winning streak into a national TV showdown with 23rd ranked Wake Forest.  Despite the Hokies’ 20-4 record, Tech was still seeking a resume boosting win, and midway through the second half it looked like the Hokies would have to find one elsewhere.  Led by future lottery pick Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake took a 61-50 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining.  The Hokies then stormed back, beginning with a monster dunk by Dorenzo Hudson, and rode that momentum to a 87-83 comeback win.  Seven foot annoyance Chas McFarland fouled out with 9 minutes remaining much to the delight of basketball fans everywhere, and despite a double-double by Aminu, the Hokies outrebounded Wake 22-9 over the last 12 minutes.  Malcolm Delaney’s 31 points and Dorenzo Hudson’s 21 were too much for Wake to handle, as Terrell Bell cleaned up a career high 14 rebounds.

#18 – December 12, 2009, University Park, PA

Hokies 66 Penn State 64

Highlights (Last 6 min)

PSU's Talor Battle scored 32 points

This was a gritty, grind it out game in front of a hostile crowd.  Tech lost the last meeting with Penn State when the members of the ‘07 Class were freshman, and the Hokies struggled mightily to score against the Nittany Lion’s 2-3 zone defense in this rematch.  The game was close throughout, with neither team taking more than a 6 point advantage.  Junior guard Talor Battle lit up the Hokies for 32 points and 9 rebounds, but Tech’s superior athleticism and depth allowed them to build a narrow late lead.  Freshman Erick Green got the call at the free throw line with the Hokies up by 1 with 7 seconds to play, where he knocked down 1-of-2.  Battle’s last second drive to the basket was partially blocked by Jeff Allen and Dorenzo Hudson grabbed the rebound, sealing a hard fought, underrated road win.

#17 – January 13, 2010, Blacksburg, VA

Hokies 81 #23 Miami 66

Highlights

The 15 point final margin is actually pretty deceptive, because this game was an absolute blow-out.  After a disappointing road loss to UNC, the Hokies returned to Cassell with a vengeance.  The Hokies came out swinging, taking a 9 point lead by the first media timeout, and eventually stretching the lead to 35 behind a 62% field goal percentage in the first half.  Tech just dominated the Canes offensively, totaling 17 assists while four different players hit a 3-pointer.  Four Hokies scored in double figures, led by Malcolm Delaney’s 28 points.

#16 – March 6, 2010, Atlanta, GA

Hokies 88 Georgia Tech 82

Entering the game, the Yellow Jackets were red hot at home, having lost only one game all season in Alexander Memorial Coliseum.  Five point underdogs on the road, the Hokies chose to give freshman Manny Atkins his first career start in place of Dorenzo Hudson, who had been battling an injured foot.  Tech, which came into the game dead last in 3-point shooting percentage, connected on 8 of 10 long range shots in the first half, helping the Hokies build a 6 point halftime lead.  As was the case often in 2010, the Hokies took full advantage of the charity stripe, hitting 24 of 29 free throws in the second half, which helped them fend off Georgia Tech’s talented frontcourt.  Terrell Bell and Manny Atkins shined in their Atlanta homecoming, with Bell scoring 14 with 13 rebounds, and Atkins scoring 5 with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.  Malcolm Delaney scored 32 and Jeff Allen hit 7 of 8 free throws, all in the second half, to propel the Hokies to an impressive road win played without their second leading scorer.

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Make it a weekend in Blacksburg! October 15-16th

Friday, October 15th

12-1pm	Chalk Talk w/ Seth Greenberg	Dietrick Dining Hall (D2)	Included with cost of lunch
7-9pm	Volleyball vs. Wake Forest	Cassell Coliseum	FREE
9-10pm	Late Night w/ the Hokies	Cassell Coliseum	FREE

Saturday, October 16th

3:30pm

Football vs. Wake Forest (Homecoming)

Lane Stadium

$48 (Tickets)