COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Hokies waited 11 years, and most of their first-round game against the Fighting Illini, to win another NCAA Tournament game.

After trailing by as many as 13, Virginia Tech (24-11) beat Illinois (23-12) on Deron Washington's banked runner in the final minute in a first-round game.

Illinois led by 10 with slightly more than 4 minutes left but didn't score in the last 4:28 as the Hokies scored the last 12 points.

After trailing 52-42, the Hokies pulled to 52-50 with Washington hitting a three-pointer, Coleman Collins making two free throws and Washington, who finished with 14 points, shooting another three from the right corner with 2:25 left.

Warren Carter led Illinois with 15 points, and Rich McBride had 14 before leaving in the final minutes because of an ankle injury.

The Illini had won their past nine NCAA first-round games.

Virginia Tech struggled down the stretch, losing three of its last four games and going 5-6 the last 11 heading into the NCAA Tournament.

The Hokies persevered despite shooting 36 percent from the floor and missing 10 free throws.

		FG	FT	Reb
ILLINOIS	Min	M-A	M-A	O-T	A	PF	Pts
Carter	34	6-12	2-3	1-5	2	2	15
Randle	28	3-4	1-5	3-12	2	4	7
Pruitt	20	3-8	0-0	2-4	0	4	6
Frazier	36	0-5	0-0	0-7	6	2	0
McBride	32	4-9	2-4	0-1	1	4	14
Meacham	13	1-2	1-1	0-0	0	2	4
Brock	17	0-1	2-2	2-3	1	1	2
Arnold	20	2-4	0-0	0-2	0	3	4
Totals	200	19-45	8-15	9-37	12	22	52

Percentages - FG .422, FT .533. Three-point goals - 6-17, .353 (McBride 4-8, Carter 1-1, Meacham 1-1, Randle 0-1, Brock 0-1, Frazier 0-5). Team rebounds - 3. Blocked shots - 1 (Randle). Turnovers - 21 (Carter 4, Pruitt 4, McBride 3, Arnold 2, Frazier 2, Randle 2, Meacham, Brock). Steals - 3 (Randle, Brock, Frazier). Technicals - None.

		FG	FT	Reb
VA. TECH	Min	M-A	M-A	O-T	A	PF	Pts
Washington	31	5-10	1-2	1-3	0	4	14
Vassallo	37	3-11	1-2	0-9	3	3	9
Collins	31	2-4	9-12	3-3	0	0	13
Dowdell	38	3-9	1-2	0-2	1	1	8
Gordon	34	2-6	6-9	0-0	7	3	10
Munson	3	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Witcher	7	0-1	0-0	0-2	0	1	0
Travis	3	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Sailes	7	0-0	0-1	0-2	0	0	0
Diakite	9	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals	200	15-42	18-28	4-22	11	12	54

Percentages - FG .357, FT .643. Three-point goals - 6-14, .429 (Washington 3-3, Vassallo 2-8, Dowdell 1-2, Gordon 0-1). Team rebounds - 1. Blocked shots - 4 (Washington 2, Collins, Diakite). Turnovers - 9 (Dowdell 5, Gordon 2, Vassallo 2). Steals - 11 (Gordon 7, Collins 2, Dowdell, Vassallo). Technicals - Bench.

Illinois ......29 23 - 52

Virginia Tech ......21 33 - 54

A - NA. Officials - Larry Rose, Bill Vinovich, Mike Thibodeaux.

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