Virginia Tech shocks N.C. State

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Posted 6:38AM on Thursday, January 20, 2005

BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA - Coleman Collins went from under the weather to on top of the world in one play, perhaps the biggest of his career at Virginia Tech. The second-year forward scored 20 points, including a fade-away jumper with 12.9 seconds to play Wednesday night, lifting the Hokies past North Carolina State 72-71. ``He just made a tough shot,'' Hokies coach Seth Greenberg said, commending Collins for toughing it out on a night when he wasn't feeling well. Collins also grabbed nine rebounds and made all 10 of his free throws, including six in the last six minutes for the Hokies (9-6, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). Zabian Dowdell added 20 points and Carlos Dixon 18 for Virginia Tech. The victory was a big one for the Hokies, who are in their first season in the ACC. ``You don't have any chance to succeed until you learn how to compete,'' Greenberg, in his second year at Tech, said. ``I'm more proud of that than anything that happened.'' The Wolfpack (11-6, 1-3) was led by Julius Hodge with 23 points. He scored the last 13 points for the visitors and grabbed 12 rebounds. Hodge also had a chance to win it, but his last shot was blocked by Jamon Gordon with 3 seconds to play. ``You don't stop Julius Hodge. He's just too good,'' Greenberg said. Deron Washington grabbed the ball for the Hokies and was fouled. He missed both free throws with 1.6 seconds to play, but the Wolfpack failed to get off another shot. The game was an up-and-down struggle for the Hokies. They trailed by as many as 13 in the second half, but pulled even with 10:19 to play on a jumper by Dowdell. North Carolina State scored the next 11 points to lead 67-56 with 7:30 left, but Virginia Tech allowed only four points the rest of the way, closing with a 16-4 run. Dixon, who finished 8-for-8 from the line, and Collins combined to hit 10 straight free throws down the stretch. Tech finished 19 of 24 from the line, The Wolfpack led 41-32 at halftime and took its largest lead after the break when Ilian Evtimov made two free throws awarded because Hokies coach Seth Greenberg was whistled for a technical foul at halftime. Andrew Brackman's layup made it 45-32. Gavin Grant added 14 points and Brackman 13 and 10 rebounds for the Wolfpack.