Virginia Tech Hokies at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Robinson, Alexander-Walker spark Virginia Tech's blowout win

He can only hope it keeps up. The Hokies, at 5-3, have a single-season high in ACC road wins for the first time since joining the league in 2004-05.

"I think they've been very disciplined in how they've executed it," Williams said. "Over the last three games it's just kind of continued to morph and grow and develop. I think it's a credit to our staff and our kids."

Justin Robinson scored 18 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 14 and Virginia Tech blew out reeling Georgia Tech 76-56 on Saturday.

Virginia Tech led by 14 at intermission but outscored the Yellow Jackets 21-3 to begin the second half and later led by 35 on P.J. Horne's jumper with 8:37 remaining.

Georgia Tech (11-16, 4-10) has lost five straight and nine of 10 to fall into 13th place in the 15-team ACC. Tadric Jackson scored 17 points and Josh Okogie had 10 for the Jackets, but they weren't easy points as the two star guards missed a combined 23 of 31 shots from the field

The game was essentially decided in the first 20 minutes. Virginia Tech, ranked fifth nationally in field-goal percentage, did whatever it pleased against the Jackets' zone defense, assisting on 14 of 16 baskets before halftime and burying Georgia Tech's offense after it jumped out to a six-point lead in the first 4 minutes.

"The first 30 minutes of the game, I thought we shared it as well as since we've been here," said Williams, in his fourth season with the Hokies. "I'm thankful that those other guys got the minutes they got because down the stretch it will be really important."

BIG PICTURE

Virginia Tech: Robinson is already looking ahead to a three-game homestand, and he hopes the fans will be at full capacity against Clemson, Louisville and Duke. "We have to protect our home court," he said. "We have to build off that."

EASY AFTERNOON

After a dramatic overtime performance that snapped Virginia's 15-game winning streak last weekend, the Hokies followed up with a 22-point setback at Duke, but they showed no lingering effects and mostly took a breather against Georgia Tech.

SEASON DOWN THE TUBES

It's not getting any easier for the Jackets, who have been consumed by injuries, suspensions and off-the-court civil allegations involving second-year coach Josh Pastner and a former friend.

Point guard Jose Alvarado was lost to a season-ending elbow injury last Sunday against Duke. Freshman guard Curtis Haywood was lost to a season-ending shin injury late last month. Ben Lammers emerged as a standout ACC center last season, but he's playing on a tender ankle that has clearly limited his range.

Georgia Tech trailed by 19 early in the second half when Lammers went to the bench for a break. He soon came back in and hit a runner, but the lead stood at 24.

"Obviously we've had just other things to deal with, but more than that the injury bug has really, really hurt us," Pastner said. "If I had to do it over again, I probably should've sat Ben for two or three weeks when he injured his ankle and let him get fairly healthy."

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech: Hosts No. 11 Clemson on Wednesday.

Georgia Tech: Visits No. 1 Virginia on Wednesday.

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