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Mark Berman back here in Blacksburg, where the Virginia Tech men's basketball team beat Boston College 67-48 for its 3rd straight win.

The Hokies led by as many as 26 points in the second half.

"The 2nd half was the best balance we've had between our offense and our defense," coach Seth Greenberg said. "We were very efficient defensively and we really executed offensively. We made the extra pass. We waited on screens. We cut harder. We were efficient in transition.

"We've got some guys, the light bulb's starting to go on. ... They start to buy in to playing harder defensively, being more alert and using their quickness and athleticism and trusting each other."

Tech improved to 8-6 in the ACC, grabbing sole possession of fourth place.

"I'm excited -- not surprised," JT Thompson said.

"In the media's eyes and whoever picked us, I think we exceeded (expectations), but in our own eyes .. this is where we thought we could be," Malcolm Delaney said.

Tech went on a 14-0 run to build a 44-25 lead with 14:46 to go.

"We forced them to take quicker shots," AD Vassallo said. "We did a good job running the break."

"The defensive pressure (improved) - we pushed up on them a little," Jeff Allen said.

Vassallo had all 12 of his points in the second half.

"I got better looks (in the 2nd half)," he said. "They weren't denying as hard as they were in the 1st half. ... The guys did a good job finding me."

Allen had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Thompson had 13 points as well. Tech outrebounded BC 50-33.

BC shot just 31 percent from the field.

"We're getting better on help side (defense)," Allen said.

"We helped each other out. If somebody got beat, there was always somebody there to help them out," Delaney said.

Tech had 10 turnovers in the first half but just four in the second half.

"We were trying to make a hard play out of an easy play (in the 1st half)," Greenberg said. "We weren't strong with the basketball. Instead of making the easiest pass in transition we made the hardest pass and we had a lot of empty possessions."

Tech has not done a great job guarding ACC point guards this year but did a good job against Tyrese Rice, who was 6-of-16 from the field for just 15 points.

"Malcolm and Hank (Thorns) did a terrific job of fighting over those ball screens," Greenberg said.

Tech led just 25-20 at halftime.

"It didn't work obviously but I old them, 'We can't pull a rabbit out of rear end every single game,' " Greenberg said. "We've got to start better."

Game story in Wednesday's paper and online Wed. Aaron will also have a column Wed.