Virginia Tech Hokies edge Penn State Nittany Lions

STATE COLLEGE, PA. -- For most of the night, Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney and Talor Battle of Penn State played their leading roles fittingly. But while both stars shined on Saturday, Virginia Tech Coach Seth Greenberg said the meeting between the Hokies and the Nittany Lions "was not a Picasso."

Virginia Tech defeated Penn State, 66-64, in an important nonconference test that could provide an important bullet point on an NCAA tournament résumé come March.

But the Hokies (8-1) came away with a win as a result of the Nittany Lions' sloppy late play. Penn State (6-4) shot 33.8 percent from the field and made only 13 of 22 free throws.

"We were really fortunate," Greenberg said. "That's a very good road win against an extremely competitive team that has a terrific player that's like a pit bull."

Battle scored 32 points but could not seal the win, as the game ended after he missed a driving shot in the lane as time expired. The Hokies' J.T. Thompson contested the shot, but Battle said he had a good look on the play and should have finished the opportunity.

"I saw him going full speed," Thompson said of Battle. "I knew they were going try to attack the rim. My best option was to at least try to block it, or at least try to make him change his shot."

Delaney led Virginia Tech with 27 points, scoring 18 in the second half. While his stroke was spotty earlier, he scored 13 points in a row at one point after halftime.

"Sometimes I just get in that zone when the game is close and I know I need to take it over," Delaney said, adding that he told Greenberg "to give me the ball."

Prior to making the trip, Greenberg noted the importance of the game. Penn State, winners of last season's National Invitation Tournament, is one of the best nonconference opponents on Virginia Tech's schedule.

"If we could be successful, this would be a really good road win for us," Greenberg said on Wednesday. "It's a great opportunity."

Greenberg also accurately predicted that Battle would test the Hokies. An undersize player with an oversize heart, Battle is the fiery sparkplug who has become the face of Penn State's program. Students hold up cutouts of his head at games and downtown shops sell T-shirts with his likeness.

On Saturday, Dorenzo Hudson and Erick Green guarded Battle. Hudson is one of the Hokies' best defenders, while Green has the long arms to check Battle. Each of them ran after Battle as he zipped around and got open looks thanks to frequent screens.

Battle scored 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting in the first half. But after halftime, Virginia Tech adjusted to the screens that had opened up Battle. That helped limit Battle to 5-for-14 shooting in the second half. He made only 3 of 10 free throws.

"The key to the second half of having some semblance of success against the guy was ball screens," Greenberg said.

Despite Penn State's late errors and missed free throws, Battle had a chance to win it at the end. He made a basket-to-basket drive but came up short, capping an entertaining show by two star players and giving the Hokies an important nonconference win.

"They were fun to watch," Penn State Coach Ed DeChellis said of Delaney and Battle. "We made one not really bright play after another the last three minutes. But I thought Delaney and Talor put on a show, both kids."