12/30/07 Virginia Tech-St. John's mens basketball game story for the Newport News Daily Press

Ugly Garden party produces Tech win

Virginia Tech beats St. John’s in a game that features more turnovers than points.

By DENIS GORMAN/Correspondent

9:15 PM EST, December 29, 2007

NEW YORK--Seth Greenberg was crouched in front the Virginia Tech bench, his hands covering his face; his head turned away from Saturday's Holiday Festival championship game.

Aesthetically pleasing, it was not. There were enough turnovers and missed shots to fill a coach's video-tape library for a season. Yet the overriding element that stuck out was the effort.

With both programs mirrored the other in inexperience and athleticism, Virginia Tech and St. John's proceeded to bump each other up-and-down the court; the players conspiring to play the physical, defense-first game that New York City is renowned for.

The Hokies' 54-48 win was a brief return to Big East basketball; a league where floor burns are worn as badges of honor.

"Let's face it, the game was ugly," said Greenberg. "We just made more shots than they did. What you saw was two young teams trying to find their identity (and) we just made a couple more shots."

Greenberg was not facetious. Virginia Tech (8-5) made three more shots from the floor than did its former Big East rival St. John's (6-5). In the 12th meeting between the programs, the teams combined to shoot 33-103 (.320) from the field: The Hokies shot 18-49 (.367) while the Red Storm made 15-53 (.283).

To further illustrate how offensively deficient both teams were, consider that each team had more turnovers--20 each--than baskets.

"Give Virginia Tech a lot of credit," St. John's coach Norm Roberts said. "Give them credit: They defended well and are extremely long. Give them a lot of credit. It was an ugly, hard-fought game.

"Let's not forget that Virginia Tech is a great team. They blocked some shots in the second half and (they) went to their veteran guys and took advantage."

The only difference between the two young programs, as Roberts noted, was the veteran play of senior forward Deron Washington and junior forward A.D. Vassallo. Vassallo led all scorers with 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds -- five offensive -- in 32 minutes.

Washington played St. John's junior forward Anthony Mason Jr. to a virtual standstill. Assigned to shadow the Red Storm's star, Washington held Mason to 12 points--eight of which were scored in the first half. Washington added 10 points and eight rebounds for good measure.

"He was playing defense," was Mason Jr.'s rather morose analysis of Washington's play.

"Deron Washington is one of the best defenders in the ACC," said Roberts. "He made it hard on Mason."

Trailing 22-21 at the start of the second half, the Hokies turned up the defensive pressure and held St. John's without a basket until the 9:12 mark.

"I joked at the half, 'First to 40 wins,' " said Greenberg. "I was wrong. First to 50 wins."

He then turned serious, talking about the history of the Festival and how important it was for the Hokies, in their tournament debut, to win it, especially with legendary coach Lou Carnesecca in attendance.

"I am really proud of our team," said Greenberg.

Vassallo won the Lou Carnesecca Award as the Festival's Most Valuable Player. Jeff Allen and Deron Washington made the all-tournament team, along with Mason Jr., Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins and Marist guard Louie McCroskey.

Marist won the consolation game, 73-67, over Hofstra.

Copyright © 2007, Newport News, Va., Daily Press

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