BC returns home to OT loss vs Va Tech 85-80

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BC returns home after a two-game road trip, that did not go as planned, the Boston College Eagles returned to Conte Forum to get back on the winning track. The Virginia Tech Hokies came to town riding a two-game win streak which would continue on Wednesday night.

The Eagles three-point shooting got them off to a good start.

Jerome Robinson knocked down his first three from deep, to give BC an early lead of 16-9 with 12 minutes gone in the first half.

Jerome Robinson now 4-of-6 from the perimeter – the fifth time this season he has hit at least four 3-pointers in a game. pic.twitter.com/NcomPrNWfS

— BC Men's Basketball (@BCMBB) February 1, 2018

Turnovers would be a problem for the Eagles through the half, in fact, by the time the first twenty minutes were over, the Eagles would commit more turnovers (eight) than assists (six).

It was the mistakes that allow Virginia Tech to stay within reach of BC. Robinson alone was responsible for four of them. Hokies were being given extra possessions and they started to make them pay off.

Get that shot outta here!#BCEagles pic.twitter.com/9sRwQIYznO

— BC Men's Basketball (@BCMBB) February 1, 2018

As the half wound down, the Hokies shooting started heating up. After starting the game 4-5, they ended the half 13-36 and when Justin Bibbs knocked down a wing three-pointer, the Hokies had a five-point halftime advantage of 34-29.

The halftime break did not slow Virginia Tech down, they began the second half on a 4-0 run to open up a 38-29 lead, at the time their biggest of the game. The half was only a minute old.

The lead reached double-digits for the first time with 16:47 left to play at 42-31. The Eagles got themselves back into the contest the same way they started the game by knocking down shots from beyond the arc.

With 7:42 left in the game, Virginia Tech’s lead grew to 12 at 62-50. The Eagles needed a comeback in a big way.

The comeback was fueled by what else, three-point shooting back to back bombs from Ky Bowman(22). With 2:55 left, BC was now down 65-61.

A Justin Bibbs left-corner three gave VT a 71-64 lead with 1:30 to play. The Eagles then received a big break when Robinson was fouled shooting a three and got the bonus. A technical foul was called on VT Chris Clark, Robinson step to the line and made all five FT. The Hokies lead was now 71-65 with 1:00 to play.

With 22 seconds to play, Robinson hit two more free throws to tie the game at 71 all. And when VT missed from the field, Robinson had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but his shot rimmed out. Free basketball was next.

In the extra frame, VT had the hot hand drilling 5-7 from the field to BC’s 1-5. The Eagles last lead came with 3:13 left on two more Robinson FT’s (32 on the night 12-13 from the stripe), 77-76 BC.

Bibbs, (18 points), three-ball gave the visitors back the lead at 79-77. Nic Popovic Dunk retied the game at 79. Popovic had 11 points and nine boards. Virginia Tech finally put the game away on consecutive baskets. First, there was a three from N. Alexander-Walker (18 on the night), then a layup from Kerry Blackshear (20 for him including 6-6 from the line) and it gave VT a five-point cushion they would not give up. The final score from Conte, Hokies 85 Eagles 80.

Final from Conte Forum: #BCEagles come back from 12 down in the second to force OT, but VTech uses the 3 to take the win. Jerome Robinson ties his career high with 32; Bowman with 22. pic.twitter.com/4vAC5kaR4H

— BC Men's Basketball (@BCMBB) February 1, 2018

Virginia Tech is now 16-6, 5-4 in league play also got 10 from Justin Robinson. For BC, this was a tough one to swallow as they finished the game with 16 assists and 16 turnovers. They dropped to 13-9 and 3-6 in conference play.

They will try to snap a three-game losing skid on Super Bowl Sunday when they played host to Georgia Tech at noon.