March 1, 2003

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Bryant Matthews scored 21 points and Virginia Tech broke open a close game with a 20-0 run in the second half as the Hokies beat Villanova 88-63 Saturday.

Dimari Thompkins started the run with a layup two minutes into the half that made it 38-32. The next time Villanova scored, more than six minutes later, the score was 56-32.

Thompkins had six points during the stretch for Virginia Tech (11-16, 4-10 Big East), while Matthews had four and Eric Chase added six on two 3-pointers.

Thompkins finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Chase had 12 points. Matthews added 11 rebounds.

The loss hurt Villanova's outside chance for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats were on the bubble coming into the game with a 15-11 overall record and an 8-5 mark in the Big East. They dropped to 15-12 and 8-6.

Derrick Snowden led Villanova with 11 points and Randy Foye had 10 on 3-for-12 shooting. The Wildcats went 6-for-31 from 3-point range.

The Hokies shot 57 percent in the second half after trading buckets with the Wildcats for much of the first half. Villanova led by as many as seven early on.