Hokies Fall to Miami in Heartbreaking 67-66 Shootout

Virginia Tech drops to 6-8 in ACC play and further out of the NCAA Tournament conversation after another last-second, one-score loss.

Although Tech snagged a massive win against Clemson on Wednesday, Feb. 11, a blowout loss at home would set the Blacksburg team back to where it was on the March Madness bubble watch. 

The Hokies, sitting among the first four out in many bracket forecasts prior to Tuesday’s Miami matchup, would need to make a big splash in order to find themselves on the right side of the bubble come March. Tech would have the opportunity to do just that as the squad ventured down to South Florida to take on another ACC foe in the Miami Hurricanes, a team currently hovering around an eight seed in the NCAA Tournament bracket.

Despite an early 12-5 deficit, the Hokies clawed their way back with the help of back-to-back three pointers from Jaden Schutt to take an 18-15 lead. Both squads would hold close as the Hokies would have a 25-24 lead with just over seven minutes left in the half.

Though the maroon & orange was able to jump out to a 32-26 lead late in the first half, the Hurricanes were able to climb back to narrow the the Hokies’ lead to 34-31 heading into halftime.

Amani Hansberry led the scoring for the Hokies in the first half of Tuesday's contest with seven points. Schutt and Antonio Dorn followed close behind with six points each. Though Dorn’s point came primarily in the paint, Schutt’s aforementioned pair of three pointers gave him his first-half tally.

Tuesday’s showdown remained tight into the start of the second half; the score remained within one score until the 9:36-remaining mark, when Hansberry fought for a layup to give the Hokies a 55-50 lead.

The two teams traded off scoring, with Miami retaking the lead with 4:40 left to play in the second half, however the Hokies were able to steal the lead right back with roughly two minutes remaining.

However, Tech faltered late once again, as Miami was able to tie the score at 66 apiece at 1:18 remaining after a three-pointer from Tre Donaldson – who would end the night with 32 points.

Donaldson would then draw a foul with 12 seconds remaining, allowing him to tack on the go-ahead point for the Hurricanes.

Despite the Hokies having the final possession of the game, they were unable to capitalize as Ben Hammond just barely missed the drive-in layup in the final seconds of the contest. The miss would mark a brutal end to what was a promising opportunity for Tech to get back into the March Madness conversation.

Hansberry ended the night as the leading scorer for the Hokies with 16 points. His total came off five field goals including two makes from beyond the arc.

Jailen Bedford finished second in the Hokies’ scoring with 12 points against the Hurricanes. The total marks his 10th double-digit-scoring outing in Tech’s 14 conference matchups thus far in the 2025-2026 season.

Hammond finished off the double-digit scoring for Tech Tuesday night as he posted 10 points after going 4-8 from the field – which included a make from three-point range.

The Hokies will look to pick up a win where they can against Wake Forest Saturday. Although Tech lost by one score to the Demon Deacons earlier in ACC play for the 2025-2026 season, Wake Forest currently sits in the bottom half of ACC rankings. With the matchup in Blacksburg, the Hokies will have a better chance than not of salvaging a late-season win.

Although hopes are slim for the Hokies’ March Madness chances, there is still a chance for them to possibly make a run for a bubble spot in the final weeks of the season. 

While a win against Miami would have brought Tech back to life, the Blacksburg squad can still have a chance to improve their resume in the ACC Tournament. Granted the Hokies get wins where they should in the final few games of their regular season, they should have a chance to get some marquee wins come the conference tournament.