Freshman Ben Emelogu scored a game-high 22 points to lead Virginia Tech past West Virginia 87-82 on Tuesday.
Adam Smith added 19 points for the Hokies (1-1), who rallied from a 17-point deficit in the first half. Smith scored seven of Virginia Tech’s last nine points.
Smith’s three-point play with 33.2 seconds to play gave the Hokies an 83-79 lead, and after West Virginia’s Remi Dibo hit a 3-pointer with 23.7 seconds left to cut the lead to one, Smith hit two free throws to push the lead to 85-82 with 16.2 seconds remaining.
West Virginia (1-1) had a chance to tie the game, but Nathan Adrian’s 3-pointer was short and Virginia Tech’s Devin Wilson got the rebound. He made two free throws with 5 seconds left to seal the game for Virginia Tech.
Wilson finished with 16 points for the Hokies. Dibo led West Virginia with 17 points.