BLACKSBURG, Va. — Mylyjael Poteat delivered an impressive performance, scoring a career-best 25 points, and secured Virginia Tech’s victory over Miami with a crucial three-point play just 2.7 seconds before the final buzzer, resulting in an 86-85 win on Saturday.

Poteat received a pass from Ben Hammond while driving to the basket, was fouled by Brandon Johnson, and converted the ensuing foul shot, clinching the game for Virginia Tech. After a timeout, Miami was unable to get a shot off as time expired, unable to advance the ball the length of the court.

Tobi Lawal contributed significantly for Virginia Tech (6-8, 1-2 ACC) with 22 points, helping the team snap a four-game losing streak against the Hurricanes, a run that dated back to 2022.

For Miami (4-10, 0-3), Matthew Cleveland led the scoring with 21 points, while Jalil Bethea added 15 points and Austin Swartz contributed 12. Lynn Kidd, a former Hokie now starting for Miami, scored seven points in his return to his old team but left the floor immediately after the game and did not participate in the customary handshake line between the players and coaches.

Both teams exhibited strong shooting in the first half, with Miami hitting 57% (16 for 28) and Virginia Tech closely following at 55% (16 for 29). Lawal and Poteat each tallied 10 points by halftime. The momentum continued after the break, as the Hokies concluded the game with a shooting percentage of 54.2% (32 for 59) while Miami maintained an impressive 58.9% (33 for 56).

Virginia Tech’s largest lead in the first half was established by Ben Burnham’s three-pointer, extending the score to 28-23 with 11:38 remaining before halftime. Conversely, Miami’s biggest advantage before the half concluded was when Matthew Cleveland sank a three-pointer to make it 38-32 with just 3:22 remaining.

Looking ahead, Miami will be hosting Florida State on Wednesday, while the Hokies will travel to take on Stanford on the same day.