BLACKSBURG – In the Commonwealth Clash, Virginia Tech’s No. 20/19 male basketball team defeated Virginia’s No. 8/8 65-51 on Saturday night inside the Cassell Coliseum. The technology wins its fourth victory of the season.
The Hokies advance to 13-3 overall and 7-2 ACC, giving them their best start in school history through nine conferences. Virginia dropped to 11-3 overall and 7-1 this season, marking her first conference loss.
On the offensive side, striker Keve Aluma He reached his career record of 29 points and also managed 10 rebounds, his double-double fourth of the season. Second year Hunter Cattoor he scored 15 points in 71% of the field shots and also hit three triples. As a team, Tech reached nine triples, one of the highest totals of the season.
With defense becoming its strong point, Tech allowed the Cavaliers to score 51 points, tied with the lowest number of points an opponent has scored against the Hokies throughout the season (27/01/21 Notre Dame). Technology forced the Wahoos to shoot only 36% of the field and 35% behind the bow. The Hokies made two steals, four blocks and caused the Cavaliers to make nine turns.
THE GAME
The Cavaliers gained a slight advantage at the start with hot kicks behind the hoop by hitting five triples in the first ten minutes. Losing 21-14, with just over eight minutes remaining at the end of the break, Aluma scored seven consecutive points unanswered and tied the game at 21-21.
Kihei Clark of the Wahoos ended the Hokies’ series with five consecutive points to place Virginia at 26-21. The Cavaliers did not give up another bucket for the rest of the first and entered the first half with a 26 to 21 advantage.
The Cavaliers left the range and continued to hit the 3 points, which put them 39-29 at the start of the second. With just under ten minutes left, Alleyne and Bede each drilled 3s to reach a 45-44 possession.
With less than eight minutes remaining, the Hokies were on fire and could not miss, as they scored a 19-0 streak that put them in 63-47. Technology only allowed the Cavaliers to score four more points in the remainder of the match and won 65-51.
QUOTE MIKE YOUNG
In what this victory says about this team that you managed to get this victory over UVA:
“It’s significant now, but let’s hit the brakes“Coach Mike Young said.” It is late January they are not putting a crown on anyone’s head in January. We have a bunch more of those puzzles to go to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Big win for us, we played a good game against a really good team from Virginia, but let’s wait, we have a lot more to wait ”.
CATTOR HUNTER QUOTE
On what to bring down the number 8/8 team in the country says about this program:
“It is a great victory for us, as we entered, we had a great scout from our coaches and managed to execute it. We played well as a team, I found a great victory for the team and a great victory to move forward in the ACC game. “
GAME NOTES
– Mike Young won his first victory against the Cavaliers and Tony Bennett.
– Bede gave five assists that are tied for their second highest total this season (8 against Longwood)
– Cattoor hit three triples, which marks the fifth exit in which he hit at least three 3s.
– Mutts caught eight rebounds against the Cavaliers, giving him a total of 27 in the last three matches
– Tech ends a four-game losing streak for the Wahoos and defeats Virginia for the first time since February 10, 2018 (61-60 OT).
NEXT
The Hokies hit the road once more to face Pittsburgh on February 3 at 7 pm at the Petersen Events Center.