Georgia Tech hangs but falls to No. 22 Virginia Tech

Ty Outlaw made six of Virginia Tech’s 13 3-point baskets and finished with a season-high 20 points in the No. 22 Hokies’ 76-68 win over Georgia Tech on Wednesday in Blacksburg, Va.

Virginia Tech (19-5, 8-4 ACC) ended a two-game losing streak and swept the season series against Georgia Tech (11-14, 3-9), which has lost six straight and eight of its last nine.

Outlaw, a graduate senior, was 6 of 12 from the floor — all 3-point attempts — and added three rebounds and three blocks. The Hokies also got 16 points from Kerry Blackshear Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, as well as 11 from Ahmed Hill.

The Hokies played without All-ACC point guard Brandon Robinson, who missed his third game with an undisclosed foot injury.

Georgia Tech got a career-high 22 points from freshman Michael Devoe, 18 points and eight rebounds from James Banks III, and a career-high 11 points from freshman Kristian Sjolund, who made three 3-pointers.

Virginia Tech ran off to an early lead thanks to Outlaw’s three 3-pointers and took a 27-16 edge when Hill made a 3-pointer with 4:44 remaining.

But Georgia Tech bounced back to score the last 14 points of the half, which included 3-pointers from Khalid Moore and Sjolund, and two last buckets from Banks. The rally, which gave Georgia Tech a 30-27 halftime lead, was accomplished without point guard Jose Alvarado, who had to leave the game after being incidentally struck below the waist on a play away from the ball. Alvarado was able to return in the second half.

Virginia Tech outscored Georgia Tech 20-7 to start the second half and extended its lead to 10 when Isaiah Wilkins made a 3-pointer with 13:36 to make it 47-37. But the Yellow Jackets rallied again, using an 8-0 run to make it 49-48 on Devoe’s trey with 8:56 left.

The Hokies answered with a three-point play from Blackshear, and Georgia Tech temporarily lost Devoe when he banged knees with Alexander-Walker and left the game with 8:13 remaining. That started an 11-3 run that put Virginia Tech ahead 60-51 with 5:53 remaining.

Georgia Tech plays again on Saturday at home against Florida State. Virginia Tech travels to Pittsburgh on Saturday.