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BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Ben Reed scored 13 of his 20 points in the final eight minutes as Western Michigan defeated Virginia Tech 74-68 Wednesday night.
Western Michigan (7-3) hit five of six free throws in the last 24 seconds, including both ends of a one-and-one by Reed, to seal the win.
Zabian Dowdell, who had 13 points, scored to give the Hokies (5-4) a 37-35 lead to open the second half, but Western Michigan responded with a 9-1 run to regain the lead for good.
Western Michigan center Joe Reitz went picked up his fourth foul with nearly 10 minutes to play in the game. The Hokies used the advantage to pull within three, 59-56, when Deron Washington hit a jumper in the paint.
The Broncos started the game with a 10-0 run that included 3-point baskets from Levi Rost and Silver Laku. Dowdell stopped the run with a running dunk nearly six minutes into the game.
Carlos Dixon led a 12-4 spurt with a pair of layups and a 3-pointer to pull Tech within one, 17-16. Dowdell hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 21, but Reed countered with one of his own put the Broncos back on top.
The Hokies grabbed their first lead, 26-24, at the 6:30 mark after Shawn Harris hit a 3-pointer and Dixon put in a reverse layup. The teams traded baskets for the rest of the half as the lead changed hands five times.
Rost's jumper tied the game at 35, and that's where it stood at the half.
Western Michigan was 11-of-27 from 3-point range. Rost was 5-of-10 from beyond the arc and finished with 19 points.
Dixon led Virginia Tech with 14 points.


