It’s never easy to win conference basketball games on the road, especially when they involve a rivalry game and one team has historically dominated at home. That’s exactly what Virginia Tech faced on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville.
Virginia has been tough to beat inside John Paul Jones Arena, particularly in their Commonwealth Clash matchups with the Hokies. However, this year felt different. The Cavaliers had struggled, entering the game with a 3-7 record in ACC play, trailing Mike Young’s Hokies by one game. For much of the contest, the Hokies held the lead, battling through runs from the hosts. In the end, they managed to hang on for a 75-74 victory. With that win, Tech improved to 5-6 in ACC play. Now, here are two truths and a lie from the game:
Truth: Virginia Tech survived
Throughout the game, Virginia Tech did a solid job of answering each of Virginia’s runs, but they had to survive a buzzer-beater attempt to escape with the one-point win. It truly was an escape, as Virginia Tech didn’t help its own cause down the stretch.
Despite shooting 13-for-15 from the free-throw line earlier in the game, the Hokies faltered when they needed it most. They finished just 1-for-8 from the line in the final moments, with each miss giving Virginia a chance to mount a comeback. However, Tech managed to survive the free throw woes and secured a crucial road win, thanks to a number of other key plays and contributions throughout the game.
Truth: Jaden Schutt & Tobi Lawal were great offensively
There were several factors behind Virginia Tech’s win, but on the offensive end, Duke transfer Jaden Schutt and VCU transfer Tobi Lawal were the standouts. Freshman point guard Ben Hammond also made some key shots, including a floater, but it was Schutt and Lawal who consistently provided the answers against Virginia.
Schutt finished with 18 points, including a stellar 4-for-8 performance from beyond the arc. With each shot, he exuded confidence, showing exactly what Mike Young and his staff had hoped for when they brought him in. Lawal was a force inside, contributing 17 points and proving to be too much for the Cavaliers. When the Hokies needed key baskets down the stretch, Lawal was there to deliver in the paint.
Lie: There was no juice because of the team’s records
For the first time since 1970, both teams entered the matchup with losing records. Despite this surprising stat, the excitement surrounding the game remained high, and the crowd was fully engaged. Both teams gave it their all, and had Virginia Tech lost, it would have been a tough blow.
The Hokies will aim for a season sweep in two weeks in Blacksburg, and no matter what happens in Virginia Tech’s next game, Cassell Coliseum will be buzzing. With the win over Tech, they are now two games ahead of their in-state rivals in early February. Who would have thought that was possible at the start of the season? I certainly didn’t.
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