BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech put together a gutsy effort on the road last night against NC State to earn its second ACC win in as many attempts.
A common theme in the Hokies' last two wins is their dominance in the paint. Tech put up more than 30 points in the paint for the second game in a row, moving it to 6-1 when accomplishing that feat.
DOMINATE THE GLASS
- The Hokies put together a clinic on the boards against the Wolfpack, who are third in the league in rebounds. Tech held a 37-26 advantage on the glass.
- Justyn Mutts and Keve Aluma accounted for 20 of Tech's 37 rebounds, which were a season-high in ACC contests.
- NC State's 26 rebounds were the fewest it's had all season and the league's second-leading rebounder, Dereon Seabron, tied a season-low in rebounds with five.
CLUTCH BUCKETS
- Sean Pedulla had only shot four free throws all season and none in Tech's last five games, but stepped up to the line and sank two shots from the charity stripe with 12 seconds left – extending the Hokies' lead to three points.
- After the Wolfpack drew Virginia Tech's lead down to four points, Storm Murphy nailed a shot from beyond the arc, adding to the Hokies' cushion.
THE FIRST 20 IN RALEIGH
- In the last two games at NC State, Virginia Tech has restricted the Wolfpack to averaging 17.5 points in the first half and shooting 25 percent from the field. In their last meeting in Raleigh, N.C. on February 2, 2019, then-ranked No. 23 NC State registered the fewest points scored by a ranked team (24) in the shot clock era.
BIG MAN CLINIC
- Mutts and Aluma were an issue all night for the athletic NC State team. The two shot 11-15 from the floor and contributed three blocks. Mutts had four assists, the most he's had in an ACC game this season.
- Aluma registered his fourth double-double of the season and his first since the Duke game on Dec. 22.