CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- There were two glaring reasons for Virginia Tech's three-game winning streak coming to an end in Sunday's 82-75 loss to Miami at the BankUnited Center.

The Hokies (16-4, 3-3 ACC) didn't play the type of defense that had them tied for the ACC lead in scoring defense at 60.5 points, and it led to an insurmountable 17-point Miami lead, 47-30, at halftime.

In the second half, the defense got tougher and Tech cut the Miami lead to five points on eight occasions, but the Hokies could get no closer as the Hurricanes (16-5, 2-5) broke a four-game losing streak.

"We can't win unless we defend," Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg said. "I thought our plan was pretty good, but we have to execute. The first half had nothing to do with the scoring.

"It had everything to do with our inability to have a sense of urgency, purpose and toughness on defense. If we had a sense of urgency, the scoring would have taken care of itself."

Greenberg pointed to 3s by Miami's Adrian Thomas, James Dews and Garrius Adams in a five-possession span.

"We didn't guard," Greenberg said. "Their first three 3s were catch-and-shoot guys that we let catch and shoot. You can't let that happen."

Miami's shooting percentage of 70 percent (62.5 percent on 3s) and 47 points were the most in a half by a Virginia Tech opponent this season.

The 82 points and Miami's 63.2 shooting percentage for the game (52.9 on 3s) were also the best by an opponent.

"We let down in the first half," said Dorenzo Hudson who led the Hokies with 22 points and is averaging 19 points for games in 2010. "We didn't have the urgency to punch them in the mouth and bury them.

"They hit some shots and had the sense of urgency to punch us in the mouth like we did when we beat them (81-66 on Jan. 13) at our house."

It was 18-13 Miami when Malcolm Delaney, who finished with 16 points, got his second foul with 11:18 remaining in the half and was replaced by Erick Green.

"I think that they kind of seized the game at that point," Greenberg said.

From 22-17, the Hurricanes scored seven straight points ignited by Greenberg's first technical foul of the season. Official Mike Stuart called the technical after an offensive foul on Green who collided with Dews.

"I've been doing this a long time, and I've never gotten a technical without a warning," Greenberg said, "but that's his prerogative. He gets the last word.

"It's not like I can take it to court. I'm disappointed it hurt our team. I don't want to let our guys down."

Delaney, Jeff Allen and Hudson were the only Virginia Tech scorers in the first half, with 10 points each.

In the second half, the defensive intensity increased. The Hokies trapped the ball screens effectively and doubled the post. They had seven steals and forced the Hurricanes into 12 turnovers.

J.T. Thompson sparked the Hokies off the bench with 14 second-half points. An 11-1 Hokies' run reduced the lead to single digits, 56-47 on Thompson's free throw with 13:11 left.

The deficit hit five from the first time in the second half on a Thompson free throw with 7:32 left making it 65-60.

"I just tried to come off the bench and give my team some energy," Thompson said. "We played better on defense in the second half, and it showed in our offense."

In the 24-10 run from 55-36 to 65-60, Thompson had eight points and a steal.

"We were trapping the ball screens," Greenberg said, "and he was the recipient at the end of it a couple of times."

The deficit would be five points seven more times, but the Hokies got no closer.

"In the second half, we defended with a great purpose," Greenberg said. "We were much more active and had them reacting to us. We cut it to five a couple of times but couldn't get over the hump."

Delaney was most upset about the opportunities missed in the second half.

"We played bad in the first half," Delaney said, "but it didn't lose the game. We lost the game because we didn't convert chances in the second half."

The Hokies face North Carolina on Thursday night.

"We can't focus on this loss," Delaney said.

"It was a bad one, but we have to bounce back and get ready for Carolina."

VIRGINIA TECH (16-4)

Allen 6-12 6-8 19, Bell 2-5 0-0 4, Davila 0-1 0-0 0, Hudson 8-14 2-2 22, Delaney 5-12 6-6 16, Raines 0-0 0-0 0, Green 0-3 0-0 0, Boggs 0-0 0-0 0, Atkins 0-0 0-0 0, Thompson 4-6 6-8 14. Totals 25-53 20-24 75.

MIAMI (16-5)

McGowan 2-2 0-0 5, Collins 3-5 1-1 7, Thomas 3-6 0-0 8, Scott 3-6 6-8 12, Dews 5-7 9-10 21, Grant 4-6 2-3 13, Adams 1-2 0-0 3, Jones 2-2 0-0 4, Johnson 0-1 7-10 7, Gamble 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-38 25-32 82.

Halftime -- Miami 47-30. 3-Point Goals -- Virginia Tech 5-19 (Hudson 4-8, Allen 1-2, Bell 0-2, Green 0-2, Delaney 0-5), Miami 9-17 (Grant 3-4, Dews 2-3, Thomas 2-5, McGowan 1-1, Adams 1-2, Scott 0-2). Fouled Ou -- Thompson. Rebounds -- Virginia Tech 24 (Hudson 6), Miami 23 (Collins, Johnson, Scott 4). Assists -- Virginia Tech 17 (Delaney 6), Miami 17 (Dews, McGowan, Scott 4). Total Fouls -- Virginia Tech 26, Miami 20. Technical -- Virginia Tech Bench. A -- 7,189.