Redshirt junior guard/forward Ty Outlaw put on a dazzling perimeter shooting display as Virginia Tech spoiled No. 25 Miami's first venture into the college basketball rankings this season with a 66-61 victory Monday night at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.
With the win, the Hokies (21-8, 10-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved into a sixth-place tie in the league with the Hurricanes (20-9, 10-7 ACC) and Virginia going into the final weekend of the regular season. Miami had moved into rankings for the first time this season earlier in the day.
Outlaw missed his only 2-point attempt but was nearly unstoppable from 3-point range, canning a school-record eight 3-pointers in just 10 attempts on his way to a career-high 24 points.
"We're deep into the season, and I'm getting more minutes," Outlaw said. "It's a rhythm thing. That's why they recruited me to come here -- because I can shoot. My team has confidence in me. I don't see why I wouldn't make 8 for 10."
He wound up with one more 3-pointer in 11 fewer attempts than the Hurricanes had as a team.
"I think he made some outstanding shots," Miami coach Jim Larranaga said. "He's been on fire these last several games. I think Virginia Tech has really been shooting the 3-ball well from every position, and Ty had eight of the 10 they made so he made 80 percent of their 3s -- one guy.
"We tried several different people on him and the only guy that had minor success was Davon Reed, which he didn't get to shoot any against Davon."
The Hokies needed someone to step up as their two top scorers managed only a combined 19 points, all in the second half. Forward Zach LeDay scored just seven points while guard Seth Allen wound up with 12, thanks to his four free throws in the final 65 seconds. They were averaging 14.9 and 14.5 points a game, respectively, entering the night.
Outlaw, who missed last season because of health issues after transferring from junior college, was averaging just 5.0 points a game with a single-game high of 19 entering the night.
"He's a good player, isn't he?" Tech coach Buzz Williams said. "I like guys that can do multiple things. At this level, you have to be elite in some category. Obviously, he's elite as a shooter."
Guard/forward Anthony Lawrence Jr. led Miami with 18 points while forward Kamari Murphy added 13 and Reed 11.
The Hokies started fast, making their first four shots in jumping out to 10-1 lead in the opening minutes. They managed to hang on to the lead throughout the first half but went into the break up only 27-26.
Miami quickly took its first lead of the game when guard Bruce Brown canned a 3-pointer on the first possession of the second half, but Tech went on a 12-3 run midway through the period to take a 45-38 lead. Miami caught up at 48-48 as the Hokies went on a field-goal drought that lasted for over six minutes.
But after Murphy's jumper gave the Hurricanes a 50-48 lead, the Hokies answered back with a 12-4 run to assume a 60-54 advantage with just over two minutes remaining. The Hurricanes couldn't overcome that.
In addition to the 10-7 advantage they had on 3-point baskets, the Hokies also were 18 of 26 from the free-throw line to Miami's 12 of 17.
"We gave up too many 3s and too many free throws, and those were points of emphasis, the two things we wanted to take away," Larranaga said. "We didn't want to put them on the foul line, and we didn't want to give them the chance to get double digits in making 3s.
"The last time we played them, they only made four. Tonight they made 10. That's the difference in the game."
NOTES:
-- Virginia Tech G/F Ty Outlaw is 20 of 26 from 3-point range over the last four games.
-- Tech improved to 15-1 at home with the win over Miami. The Hokies' only loss was to Notre Dame. They finish their regular season at home against Wake Forest Saturday.
-- Earlier in the day, Miami G Bruce Brown was named ACC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after scoring 14 points in a win at Virginia and 25 in the win over Duke Saturday.
