Backup Guard Brandon Rechsteiner converted seven out of eight free throw in the last 32 seconds when Virginia Tech collected for a 65-63 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.
Tobi Lawal produced 15 points and 10 returns to Tempo Virginia Tech (11-13, 6-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), which dragged 11 points with just over 12 minutes to play. Rechsteiner added 12 points that went in for foul Ben Hammond and Ben Burnham published 10 points from the bench when Hokies won their third straight road game.
Markus Burton led Notre Dame (10-13, 4-8) with 23 points and three steals but he missed an important four minute stretch of the second half with an injury above his left eye. Tae Davis added 18 points and eight returns while Braeden Shrewsberry, team’s No. 3-point producer at 14.3 per match, was held speechless at 0-for-8 shooting.
When Burton paid his only 3-pointer on the day with 14 minutes to play, he lifted the Irish to a lead of 42-32. But less than 30 seconds later, Burton lowered and went into the team’s dressing room with a towel over his head.
Notre Dame went up 46-35 with 12:12 to go and still led by nine when Burton returned to the bench at the 10: 59 brand and held an ice pack above his left eye.
Virginia Tech then got five straight points to close within 48-43 and urge a fighting Irish timeout to get Burton back in the game. Burton met a 14-foot pull-up for the game’s next basket, but Hokies continued to close.
Lawal’s backlash can with 3:06 to play gave Virginia Tech a 55-54 edge-dess first lead since Lawal’s alley-oop sludge to open the game. Burnham added a corner 3 with 2:01 left before Rechsteiner preserved the lead from the free throw line.
The Hokies made only two of their first 15 field target attempts as Notre Dame’s Man-to-Man defense limited visitors’ open shots and forced four sales. At the same time, Fighting Irish rolled a 12-0 driving to build a lead of 18-4 when the beginner Sir Mohammed delivered a basket and two assists.
Virginia Tech responded by eight straight points to reduce the deficit to 18-12 at the mark 8:24. Tyler Johnson fell the game’s first 3-pointer with 6:40 left to help hokies pull within 20-15.
Burton got six points during the last three minutes of half when the Irish arrested a lead of 33-26 at the break.
-Field level media
