Erick Green scored 24 points and Robert Brown had 18 Tuesday night, leading Virginia Tech to a 95-79 victory against Iowa in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
The Hokies (6-0) broke away with a 19-1 run spanning the halves, then withstood a run that pulled the Hawkeyes to within 57-54 with 12 minutes left. Virginia Tech then went on a 12-4 burst to rebuild the margin. The victory, under first-year coach James Johnson, gave the Hokies their first 6-0 start since 1982-83.
Aaron White had 21 points to lead the Hawkeyes (5-2) and Roy Devyn Marble added 18.
Virginia Tech tried to take command to start the second half as Green scored the first nine points, extending the Hokies' lead to 55-38 - their largest to that point in what had been a very close game.
Iowa missed its first nine shots of the half, then made most everything over the next five minutes. Marble scored six points and White four in a 14-0 run that pulled the Hawkeyes to within 55-52.
A driving left-handed layup by Jarell Eddie ended a 4 1/2-minute scoring drought for the Hokies, and rejuvenated their fast-paced approach with instant results. The Hokies used a 14-6 burst to rebuild their lead to 69-58 with 9:03 left.
White scored two straight baskets for Iowa to cut the lead to 69-62, but it was Iowa's last challenge as Brown followed with a 3-pointer and Cadarian Raines added a putback for Virginia Tech.
The lead was back up to 74-62, and the Hawkeyes got no closer than nine thereafter in falling to 0-3 in their history against Virginia Tech.
The Hokies led 46-38 after a close first half in which both teams shot 50 percent.
All nine Hokies that played scored, and eight players scored for Iowa.
---
Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr
