MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney (23), surrounded by Virginia's Jerome Meyinsse (55) and Sammy Zeglinski (13), scored 27 points in the win.

MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg says he and his staff have tried to get his players to relish overtime and playing in environments like Thursday night in Charlottesville.

A knack for winning close games is becoming a trademark of the Virginia Tech men's basketball team this season.

The Hokies won 76-71 in overtime at Virginia on Thursday night, improving to 5-1 in games decided by five points or fewer or by overtime.

"You've got to find something inside yourself that's going to give you the competitive spirit, the stick-to-itiveness to keep on grinding and stay with it and get yourself to a higher level," Tech coach Seth Greenberg said Friday. "There's some luck involved in the thing also, but it's also instilling confidence in the guys."

Tech was 8-8 in such games last season and 6-8 two seasons ago. The Hokies were relegated to the NIT both years.

On Thursday, the Hokies (16-3, 3-2 ACC) trailed 62-52 with 3:44 left in regulation before going on a 13-0 run.

UVa's Sammy Zeglinski buried a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left to force overtime, but Tech scored the first five points of OT and led the rest of the way.

Tech improved to 12-2 in OT since the start of the 2006-07 season, including 3-0 this season.

Greenberg said his message to his charges before the overtime period Thursday was that "overtime is not a burden."

"We have really tried to brainwash our guys that we enjoy overtime: 'You get five more minutes to play in this environment, in this atmosphere. You found so many ways to get back in the game -- twice -- that just stay with it and trust each other and believe in each other,' " Greenberg said. "That's what they did."

Last season, Tech was plagued by agonizing losses.

The Hokies lost to Xavier, Wisconsin and Boston College on a basket in the final second. They lost at Georgia when they missed two shots for the go-ahead basket in the final seconds. They lost to Florida State when A.D. Vassallo missed what would have been the winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. They lost to North Carolina after Tyler Hansbrough tied up J.T. Thompson to give UNC possession with the Tar Heels up by one point with 5.2 seconds to go.

Stingy defense has helped Tech in close games this season.

UVa turned the ball over twice and missed three shots during Tech's 13-0 run and had two more turnovers in OT. In last weekend's 63-62 win over Boston College, three of BC's 20 turnovers came in the final minute.

"We're trying to have something to hang our hat on, and that's getting stops," Greenberg said. "We get stops, every other aspect of our game improves -- transition game, we rebound, we run offense harder, we're tougher."

Thursday was not Tech's first comeback in recent games.

Last weekend, Tech trailed BC 62-59 with 29.4 seconds left. In a 63-58 loss at Florida State two weekends ago, Tech trailed 57-47 with 1:29 to go but rallied and had a chance to tie the score with 2.9 seconds to go. The Hokies were confused about which play they were supposed to run, though, and turned the ball over.

On Thursday, Malcolm Delaney scored six of his 27 points during Tech's 13-0 run and scored the first three points of OT. Thompson scored four of his 17 points during Tech's run and had seven points in OT. Dorenzo Hudson, who scored 18 points, had a big 3-pointer in the run.

"We're finding a way to grind out and win games," Greenberg said. "I do like [the] body language, what our guys say even when they're down, their willingness to just continue to compete and figure out a way ... to get back in the game.

"You're listening to Dorenzo and J.T. and Malcolm and even Victor [Davila] talk in those timeouts: 'One run. Let's get two stops in a row. Let's stay with it. Let's support each other.' "

On Jan. 2, the Hokies beat Seton Hall in OT without Delaney, who missed the game with a sprained ankle.

On Thursday, Tech won without Jeff Allen, who was ejected for elbowing Jeff Jones in the face with 13:11 left in regulation.

Thompson scored 15 points after Allen was ejected.

"When another player goes down, somebody else steps up. That's what a team is," Thompson said. "I'm the guy that tries to bring the energy, and that's what I did out there. I was trying to fly around everywhere, diving on the floor."

It was only the third time this season that Thompson scored in double figures.

"J.T.'s got to play with reckless abandon," Greenberg said. "That was the J.T. we need if we're going to be competitive."