Hokies Top Cavs Again In Overtime

State Rivals Continue In Opposite Directions: Virginia Tech 72, Virginia 65

BLACKSBURG, Va., Feb. 2 -- Coach Seth Greenberg rummaged through his mind for a joke he could tell, wanting to loosen his team at the game's most intense moment. As he watched the Virginia Tech players gather and prepare for overtime, he realized he didn't need to say anything.

Players teased forward J.T. Thompson about the would-be game-winner he missed, an open tip-in at the buzzer. "We should have been home already!" guard Malcolm Delaney said.

"It's all right," Hank Thorns said. "I love overtime."

The Hokies chuckled and, for just a moment, quieted.

"We're not going to lose," A.D. Vassallo said. "We don't lose in overtime."

Then they went out and showed why. Once the extra five minutes began, Virginia Tech played like a team accustomed to winning, and Virginia played like a team accustomed to losing. That, more than anything, might have been the difference in the Hokies' 72-65 victory Saturday at Cassell Coliseum, their second overtime victory this season over their arch rivals.

The Hokies and Cavaliers, virtually deadlocked on the court, have forged drastically divergent seasons. Virginia Tech (14-8, 5-3), which remains in sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, further surged into the NCAA tournament discussion. Virginia (11-9, 1-6), which remains buried in last place, slipped deeper into its morass.

Their disparate recent trends -- Virginia Tech has won six of eight, Virginia has lost seven of eight -- have emboldened the Hokies and drained the Cavaliers of confidence. Some Cavaliers noticed a clear difference in morale, and one player pointed to Coach Dave Leitao as a reason why.

"They had a lot of confidence," freshman forward Mike Scott said. "Playing with Seth Greenberg, he gives them a chance, a little more leeway when they make a mistake. They make a mistake, they just get through it, and they still stay on the court, whereas we don't have enough time to make a mistake. If we make a mistake, we're coming out. They have a lot of confidence.

"You see [guard Dorenzo] Hudson, you see [forward Jeff] Allen, you know they're going to stay in through mistakes. That's what it's all about -- confidence. If somebody scores on me, just let me play through it. Don't take me out. That's what I would like to see."

The difference was most evident in overtime. Virginia Tech led by 10 points in overtime, its largest lead of the game, overwhelming the Cavaliers with a fast-breaking, freewheeling style. Greenberg implored his team to push the ball on offense, and it did once overtime began. On back-to-back possessions, Thorns jetted past Virginia defenders, the first time dropping a pass to Allen for a dunk and the second time laying in an acrobatic layup himself.

"You could see it in their eyes," Greenberg said. "They weren't afraid. They were excited about playing the five extra minutes."