Boston College
Virginia Tech
Eagles Fall To Virginia Tech 81-73 In Overtime
January 26, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2008
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| Box Score 
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Junior guard Tyrese Rice scored 27 points and freshman swingman Rakim Sanders totaled 17 points to lead Boston College in an 81-73 overtime loss to Virginia Tech before 8,062 fans in Conte Forum.
Sanders sank a three-point field goal with 3.6 seconds remaining in regulation to even the score (66-66) and force the overtime session.
After BC scored the first points of overtime on two free throws from freshman Biko Paris with 3:57 left, Virginia Tech answered with seven straight points to gain control. A tip-in basket by sophomore Shamari Spears brought the Eagles to within three points - 73-70 - with 1:25 to play, but that was as close as BC would get. The visiting Hokies shot 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final 80 seconds.
BC trailed for much of the first half, before Rice sank back-to-back three-pointers to vault the Eagles to a 31-29 advantage with 3:20 remaining before intermission. Virginia Tech closed the half with a 12-2 run to gain a 41-33 lead.
The Hokies scored the first basket of the second half to secure their biggest lead of the day. BC trailed by eight points - 52-44 - with 11:12 to play in regulation, before using an 11-2 run to claim a one-point edge with 8:39 to play. Spears scored five points in the rally, while Rice and freshman Corey Raji each contributed three points.
The two teams traded the lead several times over the next few minutes. BC gained a 61-59 lead on two Sanders free throws with 6:05 left in regulation, before the visitors answered with five straight points - two baskets and one free throw - to earn a three-point cushion with 3:22 left. A Sanders basket trimmed the difference to one point, but Virginia Tech sank two free throws (shooting 1-for-2 on consecutive trips to the foul line) to regain the three-point spread and set the stage for Sanders' game-tying three-pointer.
Game Notes: BC was outrebounded 51-42 ... BC shot 39.7 percent from the field through regulation, while Virginia Tech shot a slightly-better 42.2 percent. The Hokies converted 4-of-6 attempts in overtime, while BC made just 1-of-6 ... Spears finished with seven points and 10 rebounds, marking his fifth game this season with 10 or more rebounds ... Senior Tyrelle Blair tallied five points, six rebounds and six blocked shots. He has now blocked 77 shots in 18 games this season for an ACC-leading 4.28 blocks per game.
