BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a tense Atlantic Coast Conference clash that came down to the final possession, Virginia Tech edged California 78-75 on Saturday at Cassell Coliseum, with the outcome ultimately decided at the free-throw line in the game’s chaotic final seconds.

The contest, witnessed by 5,323 fans, was a back-and-forth affair featuring 13 ties and 15 lead changes. Both teams entered and exited with identical 13-4 records, underscoring the narrow margin between them.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final 15 seconds with Virginia Tech clinging to a 76-75 lead. California’s Justin Pippen secured an offensive rebound off a Chris Bell miss and went back up, but his put-back attempt was off the mark. Virginia Tech’s Amani Hansberry grabbed the crucial defensive board and was immediately fouled with 15 seconds left.

Hansberry, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Silver Spring, Maryland, calmly sank both free throws to push the Hokies’ lead to three. California, out of timeouts, rushed upcourt, but a desperate, well-contested three-point attempt by Pippen as time expired missed everything, sealing the Hokies’ victory.

Virginia Tech’s win was fueled by its ability to capitalize on California’s mistakes. The Hokies scored 23 points off 15 Golden Bear turnovers, while California managed only 10 points off Virginia Tech’s 14 giveaways. The Hokies also held a 7-0 advantage in fastbreak points, a key factor in a game decided by a single possession.

Hansberry was the linchpin for Virginia Tech, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds, just shy of a double-double, in 30 minutes. His late free throws were the culmination of a strong all-around performance. He was supported by a balanced scoring effort that saw five Hokies reach double figures. Jailen Bedford scored 13 points, Christian Gurdak added 12, and both Tobi Lawal and Neoklis Avdalas chipped in 11 points. Avdalas also dished out six assists.

California was led by the dynamic scoring of guard Dai Dai Ames. The Chicago native poured in a game-high 21 points on efficient shooting, adding two assists in 29 minutes. The Golden Bears’ frontcourt provided solid contributions, with Lee Dort posting 10 points and seven rebounds and Milos Ilic adding 10 points, five rebounds and four assists off the bench. Chris Bell also scored 12 points.

The first half set the stage for the tight finish, ending in a 37-37 deadlock. Virginia Tech managed to create slight separation early in the second half, but California, led by Ames, repeatedly answered. The Hokies’ largest lead was seven points, but the Golden Bears fought back to tie the game at 66 with just over four minutes remaining.

Virginia Tech then engineered a decisive 6-0 run, capped by a Gurdak layup with 3:52 to go, to take a 72-66 lead. California responded with a 9-2 surge of its own, tying the game at 74 on a pair of Ilic free throws with 1:06 left. Lawal’s dunk on the ensuing possession put the Hokies back ahead for good, setting the stage for the dramatic final seconds and Hansberry’s clutch free throws.

The game defied the pregame over/under line of 145.5, with the combined 153 points going over the total. Virginia Tech, installed as a 5.5-point favorite, narrowly covered the spread.

California, which lost at Virginia earlier in the week, continues its demanding ACC schedule by hosting Duke on Wednesday. Virginia Tech, which snapped a two-game skid, hits the road to face SMU, also on Wednesday.