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Two of the state’s NCAA Tournament hopefuls will meet Friday morning in the Battle 4 Atlantis, though not in the round they’d hoped.

Saint Mary’s of California overcame Virginia Tech 77-66 Thursday in the semifinals of the eight-team bracket on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The Hokies’ first loss of the season sent them into the third-place game at 10:30 a.m. Friday against VCU, which fell to Vanderbilt.

The Gaels, 8-0 for the first time in 12 years, shot 52% from the field to Tech’s 31%.

Saint Mary’s led 31-20 at halftime after Tech went 7 of 33 from the field, including 1 of 15 from 3-point range.

The Hokies rallied to get within 40-36 following a 12-3 run, but got no closer. Murauskas made a 3-pointer from the right corner to give Sain

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