BLACKSBURG, Va., March 16 (UPI) -- Jeff Allen scored 19 points to lead five Virginia Tech players in double figures Wednesday and the Hokies coasted to a 79-54 NIT victory over Bethune-Cookman.
Virginia Tech, seeded No. 1 in its quarter of the 32-team NIT field, will host Wichita State in the tournament's second round.
The Hokies held Bethune-Cookman scoreless for a 5-minute stretch of the first half while building a 37-15 lead. Malcolm Delaney added 13 points for the Hokies and Manny Atkins had 12 off the bench.
Virginia Tech shot 56 percent from the field in running its record to 21-11. The Hokies, who fell to Duke in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, joined fellow-ACC member Miami in the second round.
Bethune-Cookman (21-12) won the regular-season title in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but lost in the semifinals of the league tournament to Morgan State. The Wildcats were paced by 20 points from Garrius Holloman.
