NEW YORK — Zach LeDay had a career-high 31 points to go with 15 rebounds as Virginia Tech stopped Wake Forest’s late-season charge with a 99-90 victory Wednesday night, overcoming an 80-foot heave by the Demon Deacons in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
Seth Allen scored 18 points and Justin Bibbs had 15 for the seventh-seeded Hokies (22-9), who took over in the second half after a slow start. They will play second-seeded and 16th-ranked Florida State in the quarterfinals Thursday night.
Bryant Crawford had 21 points for No. 10 seed Wake Forest (19-13), which had won four straight in a desperate drive for its first NCAA Tournament trip since 2010. Now, the hopes of the Demon Deacons rest in the hands of the selection committee on Sunday.
John Collins, runner-up for ACC player of the year, added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Wake Forest before fouling out with 1:06 to play.
Wake Forest won 89-84 at Virginia Tech in the regular-season finale for both teams last Saturday, a huge victory for the Demon Deacons in their postseason push. They rallied from 13 down in that game, but this time it was the Hokies who came back after a stunning shot at the end of the first half.
Demon Deacons reserve forward Greg McClinton electrified his teammates - and the buzzing Brooklyn crowd - when he connected on an amazing chuck from behind the elbow of his own foul line to give Wake Forest a 44-37 lead.
With a second on the clock, the Hokies tried a long pass from their own baseline to the other end of the court. The pass missed its intended target, McClinton grabbed the loose ball on one bounce and let fly with a one-handed fling just before the horn sounded.
Lo and behold, the ball went in - to the surprise of everyone in the arena. Indeed, even McClinton had started to turn away and head for the locker room before the ball went through.
Excited teammates mobbed McClinton on the baseline as he raised his arms and the Barclays Center crowd roared. Officials reviewed the replay, and the basket counted.
It was the first career 3-pointer and the only points of the night for McClinton, who played all of two minutes.
With home wins over Duke, Virginia and Miami, the Hokies appear to have a resume worthy of their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2007 under coach Seth Greenberg. They have won six of eight overall.
The 15 rebounds matched a career high for LeDay.
The Demon Deacons have already taken a major leap this season during an encouraging turnaround under third-year coach Danny Manning. They began the day with an RPI of 34 and are thought to be on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. But they have not won consecutive games in the ACC Tournament since 2006 and are still looking for their first trip to the quarterfinals since 2009. They need one win for their first 20-win season since 2009-10, the last time they made the NCAAs.
Virginia Tech lost 93-78 at Florida State on Jan. 7.
Wake Forest is hoping for an at-large bid Sunday to its first NCAA Tournament in seven years.
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