Reggie Jackson scored 20 points and Boston College beat Virginia Tech 76-61 on Tuesday night, sweeping the season series from the Hokies.
Corey Raji added 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles (18-11, 8-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), who beat the Hokies 58-56 at home on Feb. 5. This time, BC led most of the way and used an 18-4 run to ice it after the Hokies closed to within 45-39 with 16 minutes left.
The Hokies (19-9, 9-6), coming off a 64-60 victory against then-No. 1 Duke on Saturday night that enhanced their NCAA tournament credentials significantly, couldn't follow it up. They appeared out of sync from the start and trailed by at least five for all but 5 minutes.
Erick Green led Virginia Tech with 21 points. Malcolm Delaney, one of three seniors honored before possibly his final home game, added 17 and fellow senior Jeff Allen had 14.
The Eagles, in their own battle to beef up their postseason credentials, began the night tied with Maryland for sixth in the league standings, and having also swept the Terrapins.
The Hokies trailed 35-27 at halftime and closed within five twice in the opening minutes. First, Delaney's 3-pointer made it 35-30, and then one by Green made it 38-33.
But Jackson answered Green's shot with a basket and Gabe Moton followed a turnover by Virginia Tech with a driving basket, and the Hokies never got closer than six again.
That came when Allen scored inside with 16:16 to play, riling up a crowd that was trying to spur the comeback, but it fizzled instead. Moton hit a 3-pointer for the Eagles, Raji hit 3 of 4 free throws and Josh Southern followed a basket by Green with an inside basket.
Before the run was over, Raji had scored seven points and the Eagles lead was 63-43.
Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg removed Delaney, Allen and Terrell Bell, the third senior, to polite applause with 1:55 remaining and the Hokies trailing 71-56.
Jackson had 11 of his 13 first-half points in a span of 2:11 at the start of a 21-4 run that gave the Eagles a 27-10 lead. He made three 3-pointers and two free throws in the run.
But just as the crowd seemed to be sensing a long night, Delaney went hard to the basket and was fouled. He made both free throws, sparking a 17-8 burst for the Hokies to make it 35-27 at the break.
Delaney had all 11 of his first-half points in the burst, and his last basket moved him past Dale Solomon into third on the Hokies' career list with 2,137 points.
