Virginia Tech boots No. 2 seed Notre Dame in ACC quarters

Mar 10, 2022, 4:50 AM | Updated: 7:00 pm

Virginia Tech's Storm Murphy (5) looks to pass in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Notre Dame during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The Virginia Tech bench reacts after Keve Aluma scores in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Notre Dame's Blake Wesley (0) steps back into a three point shot against Virginia Tech's Nahiem Alleyne, left, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Notre Dame's Blake Wesley (0) dribbles up the court in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Virginia Tech during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Notre Dame's Prentiss Hubb (3) steps back into a two point shot against Virginia Tech's Keve Aluma (22) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Virginia Tech's Sean Pedulla, left, drives against Notre Dame's Prentiss Hubb, center, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Notre Dame's Blake Wesley (0) shoots over Virginia Tech's Nahiem Alleyne (4) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Virginia Tech's Keve Aluma (22) and Notre Dame's Paul Atkinson Jr., center, box out for a rebound off a free throw in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Notre Dame's Prentiss Hubb (3) shoots over Virginia Tech's Nahiem Alleyne (4) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Notre Dame's Nate Laszewski (14) drives against Virginia Tech's Hunter Cattoor (0) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

NEW YORK (AP) — Keve Aluma tossed in 20 points, Storm Murphy scored 16 and Virginia Tech hit eight straight free throws in the final 46 seconds to beat No. 2 seed Notre Dame 87-80 in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament on Thursday night.

Justyn Mutts added 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the seventh-seeded Hokies (21-12), who beat the Fighting Irish (22-10) for a fourth straight time. Sean Pedulla had 13 points off the bench, while Nahiem Alleyne scored 12.

Pedulla had 11 points and Aluma scored nine to help Virginia Tech take a 42-31 lead at halftime. Notre Dame scored the final five points of the half to get that close. The Hokies sank half of their 30 shots before intermission and forced 10 Irish turnovers that led to a 14-6 advantage in points off turnovers.

Notre Dame never got within one possession of the lead in the second half. The closest the Irish came was 79-75 on a Prentiss Hubb layup with 48 seconds remaining. Pedulla sank two free throws after Notre Dame was forced to foul, Hunter Cattoor hit two more and Murphy went 4 for 4 in the final 26 seconds to preserve the win.

Hubb led Notre Dame with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting with three 3-pointers. Cormac Ryan hit all eight of his foul shots and scored 20. Nate Laszewski pitched in with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Dane Goodwin scored 11.

The Irish had won seven straight ACC tournament openers before running into Virginia Tech. The Hokies, who beat Notre Dame 79-73 at home in the only regular-season meeting, move on to the semifinal round for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

The Hokies needed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Darius Maddox to get past 10th-seeded Clemson in the first round.

Virginia Tech will play No. 6 seed Virginia or No. 3 seed North Carolina on Friday.

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