BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech men's basketball team will aim for its 1,500th program win Sunday, taking on Merrimack at 4 p.m. ET inside Cassell Coliseum.
Fans can catch Sunday's game on Regional Sports Networks. Evan Lepler (play-by-play) and Brian Oliver (analysis) will have the call.
List of affiliates for how to watch RSN.
Last time out, Tech (4-0) defeated Saint Francis (Pa.), 85-55. Behind 18 points apiece from Nahiem Alleyne and Keve Aluma, the Hokies recorded their highest offensive output of the season. Darius Maddox chipped in a career-high 11 points and did not miss a shot from the floor (4-4).
Sunday's matchup between Virginia Tech and Merrimack is the first meeting between the two schools. However, it will be the second straight matchup for the Hokies against a team from the Northeast Conference (NEC). Tech is 10-2 all-time against current NEC members.
Following Sunday's game, the Hokies will be back on the hardwood Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET against No. 11 Memphis as part of the NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn, N.Y. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Sunday, November 21 | 4:00 p.m. ET
Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.)
vs. Merrimack (3-2, 0-0 NEC)
Series: First meeting
Game Notes: Virginia Tech | Merrimack
TV Broadcast
RSN
Play-by-Play: Evan Lepler
Analyst: Brian Oliver
Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Jon Laaser
Analyst: Mike Burnop
THE SERIES
• First meeting.
• Sunday will be the second straight matchup for the Hokies against a team from the Northeast Conference (NEC).
• Tech is 10-2 all-time against current NEC members.
A WIN WOULD...
• Be the Hokies' eighth straight nonconference win in regular-season action.
• Put Tech at program win No. 1,500. If Tech hits the milestone Sunday, it would become the 90th Division I men's basketball program to do so.
• Move the Hokies to 5-0 for the first time since 2019-20 when Tech opened the season 6-0.
CHASING PROGRAM WIN NO. 1,500
• With a win Sunday vs. Merrimack, Virginia Tech will earn its 1,500th win in program history.
• Currently, Providence and Tech are tied for 90th in all-time wins in NCAA Division I history at 1,499. The Friars do not play again until Monday vs. Northwestern. This gives the Hokies the first crack at becoming the 90th men's basketball program in Division I history to reach 1,500 wins.
• Tech would join ACC counterparts North Carolina, Duke, Syracuse, Notre Dame, NC State, Louisville, Virginia, Pitt and Wake Forest as the 10 conference programs that have reached the milestone.
WHO TO WATCH
• Justyn Mutts has turned into a "Human Highlight Reel" with his two tomahawk slams at Navy and vs. Radford.
• The Storm Murphy to Justyn Mutts lob and finish against Radford was No. 1 on SportsCenter's Top 10 the morning of Nov. 16.
SCOUTING MERRIMACK
• Merrimack snapped a two-game losing skid Friday night by dispatching Lehigh, 55-45. Now, the NEC members face a quick turnaround by making the trek to Blacksburg to face the Hokies in under 48 hours from when Merrimack's game ended.
• The Warriors finished the 2020-21 season at 9-9 with all games coming against NEC competition.
• Jordan Minor and Mikey Watkins are the leading returners for Merrimack. The duo landed on the All-NEC Third Team last season.
• Minor paces the Warriors' offense at 10.2 points per game, followed by Watkins at 9.6 and Mykel Derring at 9.0.
• Merrimack is under the direction of sixth-year head coach Joe Gallo. He's posted a 93-56 career record at the helm of his alma mater.
• Before the Warriors' transition from Division II to Division I, Gallo and his program completed a run of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018-19.
• Merrimack gets out-rebounded on the glass by an average of 17.8 per game.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHRISTMAS STORE GAME
• Bring a toy to Cassell to be donated to the Montgomery County Christmas Store!
ON A NON-CON ROLL
• The Hokies are riding a seven-game win streak in regular-season nonconference action.
• Tech was 7-1 in regular-season nonconference play last season, highlighted by wins over Villanova and USF in the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip- Off Tournament in Uncasville, Conn.
