NEW YORK (AP) — Erick Green scored 18 points and Virginia Tech, despite not making a field goal over the final 612 minutes, beat Oklahoma State 59-57 on Friday in the third-place game of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden.
The Hokies (4-1) went 10 of 17 from the free throw line over the final 6:01 to hold off the Cowboys (3-2), who got within two points twice.
Dorian Finney-Smith, who finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds, hit a 3-pointer with 6:49 to play to give Virginia Tech a 49-40 lead. Two free throws by Jarell Eddie kept the Hokies up 53-44 with 5:27 left. Oklahoma State scored the next seven points to get within 53-51 with 3:37 left on a drive by Jean-Paul Olukemi. The other time the Cowboys got within two was the final margin on a 3-pointer by Keiton Page with 1.4 seconds left.
