2021 NCAA Tournament First Round: #7 Florida defeats #10 Virginia Tech 75-70 to advance to 2nd Round (10-19-21)
By: Joe Dillard Jr.
Headline Photo Credit: C. Morgan/Getty Images
In the South region, Virginia Tech took on Florida where the first half seemed to be balanced with both teams shooting an identical 12 for 23 from the field yet Virginia Tech was up 33 to 27. With a balanced attack from the Hokies, they managed to cash in from the 3-point line going 5 of 12 with a plus-nine coming from the arc. Along with 3 more makes from the foul line allowed Tech to hold a 6-point lead. Coming out in the second half, both teams showed to be even as Tech still held a 6-point lead. After the timeout, Tech got a stop and preceded with a bucket attacking the hoop. The efficient execution in the quarter court by the Hokies put Florida in foul trouble.
However, after an accidental injury to Tyree Appleby, Florida came back with an 18- 9 run with under 4 minutes remaining. However, with the Madness in the air, Virginia Tech storms back from 6 down driven by Nahiem Alleyne scored 15 of his game-high 26 to send the game into overtime. With both teams battling to survive and advance, the even matchup would start as Anthony Duruji of Florida came out with a monstrous dunk to foul out Keve Aluma to cut that short Hokie rotation even shorter. With the game back and forth down to the wire, Tre Mann of Florida hit a step-back 3-pointer to give the Gators a 4-point lead with 23.4 seconds to go. That would be enough as Florida survives and advances.
