Free throws secure Virginia Tech's comeback win vs. Notre Dame

Backup guard Brandon Rechsteiner converted seven of eight free throws in the final 32 seconds as Virginia Tech rallied for a 65-63 win over Notre Dame Saturday afternoon in South Bend, Ind. Tobi Lawal produced 15 points and 10 rebounds to pace Virginia Tech (11-13, 6-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), which trailed by 11 points with just over 12 minutes to play. Rechsteiner added 12 points stepping in for foul-prone Ben Hammond and Ben Burnham posted 10 points off the bench as the Hokies won their third straight road game. Markus Burton led Notre Dame (10-13, 4-8) with 23 points and three steals but he missed a key four-minute stretch of the second half with an injury above his left eye. Tae Davis added 18 points and eight rebounds while Braeden Shrewsberry, the team's No. 3 point-producer at 14.3 per game, was held scoreless on 0-for-8 shooting. When Burton cashed his only 3-pointer of the day with 14 minutes to play, he lifted the Irish to a 42-32 lead. But less than 30 seconds later, Burton subbed out and walked into the team's locker room with a towel over his head. Notre Dame went up 46-35 with 12:12 to go and still led by nine when Burton returned to the bench at the 10:59 mark holding an ice pack above his left eye. Virginia Tech then scored five straight points to close within 48-43 and prompt a Fighting Irish timeout to get Burton back in the game. Burton hit a 14-foot pull-up for the game's next basket, but the Hokies kept closing in. Lawal's putback dunk with 3:06 to play gave Virginia Tech a 55-54 edge - its first lead since Lawal's alley-oop slam to open the game. Burnham added a corner 3 with 2:01 left before Rechsteiner preserved the lead from the free throw line. The Hokies made just two of their first 15 field-goal attempts as Notre Dame's man-to-man defense limited the visitors' open shots and forced four turnovers. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish reeled off a 12-0 run to build an 18-4 lead as freshman Sir Mohammed supplied a basket and two assists. Virginia Tech responded with eight straight points to cut its deficit to 18-12 at the 8:24 mark. Tyler Johnson sank the game's first 3-pointer with 6:40 left to help the Hokies pull within 20-15. Burton scored six points in the final three minutes of the half as the Irish seized a 33-26 lead at the break. --Field Level Media