Nijel Pack carries Miami basketball late defeating Virginia Tech

Nijel Pack scored 17 points in the final 7:35 carrying the Miami basketball late to a 92-73 victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. Virginia Tech shot the ball exceptionally well until not making a field goal in the final 4:55. Miami assistant coach Bill Courtney gave credit to the crowd in his post-game interview with Joe Zagacki.

Virginia Tech shot 56.9 percent from the floor and made seven of their 17 three-point attempts. Miami shot 58.3 percent from the floor, made eight of their 19 three-point attempts and 14 of 17 free throws. Virginia Tech finished 18-2 from the line. Virginia Tech missed its last seven shots from the floor.

Miami had four players score in double figures. Norchad Omier finished with 21 pounds and eight rebounds, Isaiah Wong finished with 18, 16 in the first half and Jordan Miller had 14. Bensley Joseph had nine points and three assists off the bench. Wooga Poplar finished the game with an emphatic dunk with 2.5 seconds remaining.

Miami improves to 17-5 overall, 8-4 in the ACC and 12-0 at home. Miami moves into a virtual tie for fourth place with North Carolina in the ACC. The Tar Heels are 7-3 in the ACC. Miami plays at first-place Clemson on Saturday. Clemson is 18-5 overall and 10-2 in the ACC. Eleventh-place Boston College beat Clemson on Tuesday.

The Miami basketball team was fortunate late in the game. Virginia Tech had a pair of uncontested threes that seemed to go in most of the game but missed when the Hokies needed those shots most. Hunter Cattoor and Sean Padulla each scored 20 points for Virginia Tech and Grant Basile scored 17 for the Hokies.

Miami began a stretch of six out of its last nine games at home with Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. After playing at Clemson on Saturday Miami will host Duke on Monday night followed by Louisville on February 11. The win against Virginia Tech continues Miami alternating wins and losses over its last nine games.