Blacksburg, VA -- Freshman Coleman Collins tipped in a Jamon Gordon miss at the buzzer, giving Virginia Tech a 71-70 victory over Rutgers and securing a spot for the Hokies in the Big East Tournament. The tip-in capped a furious Tech comeback that saw the Hokies erase a 15-point deficit with a 30-14 run over the last 12 minutes of the game. The win avenged a brutal 30-point blowout at the hands of Rutgers earlier this season.

Trailing 70-69, the Hokies inbounded the ball from half court with 4.5 seconds remaining. Gordon took the inbounds pass, drove left, and missed a runner high off the glass. Collins came from the weak side uncontested, fielded the ball cleanly in front of the basket, and dropped it into the bucket just ahead of the game-ending buzzer. The referees indicated the shot was good, and the Tech student section emptied onto the court in a raucous celebration.

An emotional Coach Seth Greenberg took the microphone and thanked the crowd for supporting the team throughout the season, then shouted, "See you in New York!" As he exited the floor, cheering students rubbed his bald head.

The game-winner was sweet redemption for Collins, who missed two free throws with 1:46 to go and had a driving layup blocked with 12 seconds to go and the Hokies behind 70-69. Rutgers (16-10, 7-8 Big East) rebounded that blocked shot, and Collins fouled Juel Wiggan with 9 seconds to go. Wiggan, an 80% free throw shooter, missed the front end of the one and one, and VT rebounded the ball, raced to half court, and called timeout with 4.5 seconds left to go, setting up the last-second shot.

With 12 minutes remaining in this game, it didn't look likely that Tech (13-13, 6-9) was even going to be in position for a last-second shot. Rutgers led 56-41, and the Hokies were devoid of life. Greenberg had received a technical foul with 14:45 to go, helping to put Tech in the 15-point hole.

The Hokies inched closer, closing the gap to 58-45 with 10:37 to go, and then Bryant Matthews, who had just eight points at that time, erupted over the next six minutes, pouring in 14 of his game-high 22 points. Matthews' final points came on a fast break dunk that made it 65-62 Rutgers, with 4:38 to go.

Matthews wouldn't score again, but he didn't need to. Tech's freshmen took over, with the next nine points coming from Gordon (5 points), Zabian Dowdell (2 points), and Collins (the game-winner). After five straight points by Gordon put the Hokies up 67-65, Dowdell hit a fast break layup that ended a 15-0 Tech run, giving the Hokies a 69-65 lead with 2:22 remaining. At that point, the Hokies had roared back from a 65-54 deficit in four and a half minutes.

Rutgers broke their long dry spell with a three-pointer by sharp-shooter Ricky Shields that made it 69-68 with 1:30 to go, and then Rutgers took the lead back on two free throws by Herve Lamizana with 23 seconds left, and the Scarlet Knights were up 70-69. It looked as if the Hokie comeback might be for naught, but fortunately for Tech, Collins got the chance to win it and came through.

Collins, who has been hampered lately by a bad back, didn't start the game, but he played 17 minutes in the second half and scored 10 points after the break. For the game, he played 28 minutes and scored 14 points on 6-10 shooting. Gordon added 17 points, hitting 3 of 4 three-pointers. Matthews led Tech in rebounding with 10, the 13th time this season he has had double-figure rebounds.

The late run by Tech electrified the crowd, which was announced as 6,598 but was closer to 4,000 attendees. Until the run and the win, the fans didn't have much to cheer about. Tech had struggled throughout the first half, falling behind and then tying the game at 25 with 2:51 to go in the first. But over the next 10:34, Rutgers outscored the Hokies 31-16 to take their 56-41 lead. That silenced the Hokie fans, but the late run, spurred by Matthews, got them out of their seats, and they visibly rattled the Scarlet Knights, who struggled in their offensive sets down the stretch.

The Hokies were outrebounded 43-33 and made just 11 of 24 free throws, compared to Rutgers hitting 17 of 22. But the Hokies made up for those shortfalls with a season low 5 turnovers, while forcing 15 and totaling 8 steals.

With the win, VT is now 6-9 in the conference, putting them in a 9th-place tie with Villanova and West Virginia. The Hokies now have a five-game winning streak at home and are winners of three of their last four games overall. Tech is now 13-13 overall, the first time they have been at .500 this late in the season since going 16-15 in 1999-2000.

The Hokies' next game is Saturday at Georgetown (13-12, 4-10), at noon in the MCI Center. Tech defeated the Hoyas 80-65 in their previous meeting in Cassell. Saturday's game will be televised. Check local listings.

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