Virginia vs. Virginia Tech: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2016 Regular Season

The Virginia Tech Hokies stunned the No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers, 70-68, pulling off the latest upset in a topsy-turvy men's college basketball season Monday.

The Hokies controlled the tempo throughout, jumping to a five-point halftime lead. They relinquished the lead only four times the rest of the way, never trailing by more than three points.

Virginia pulled to within two on an Anthony Gill three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining, and after sending the Hokies to the charity stripe to extend the contest, the Cavaliers made it a one-point game, 69-68, thanks to two Malcolm Brogdon free throws with eight seconds remaining.

However, after Virginia Tech's Seth Allen made one of two free throws, Virginia's comeback attempt came up short.

ESPN Stats & Info noted how long it had been since Virginia Tech's last win over a Top Five team:

Zach LeDay led the way with 22 points for the Hokies, while Justin Bibbs added 16 points and Allen contributed 13.

With the defeat, Virginia fell to 12-2, having lost to George Washington in its second game of the season. While it’s still early in the season, with plenty of time before March Madness, a pair of losses to unranked teams should be a cause for concern.

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports noted Monday’s win was nearly a year in the making following the Hokies’ 50-47 loss to the then-No. 2 Cavaliers on Jan. 25, 2015:

Virginia Tech remains unbeaten in the ACC at 2-0. The Hokies can continue their early-season run Saturday against the No. 14 Duke Blue Devils.

Postgame Reaction

Virginia Tech is still on winter break, meaning there wasn’t the typical postgame celebration customary in college hoops upsets, per Ava Wallace of the Washington Post:

Virginia Tech associate athletic director Pete Moris shared a video showing the limited—yet enthusiastic—crowd that celebrated postgame:

The congratulations to Hokies head coach Buzz Williams flowed through the social realms following the win, including kudos from former NBA coach John Lucas:

Virginia coach Tony Bennett elaborated on how the Hokies exploited his team, per Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball:

Williams, in his second season, earned the biggest win of his early tenure and appears to have the Hokies on the right track. After failing to make the NCAA tournament a year ago and following such a convincing win Monday, he and Virginia Tech should elevate expectations the rest of the way.