Hokies set to wrap up nonconference action against Grambling State on SaturdayHokies set to wrap up nonconference action against Grambling State on Saturday
Men's Basketball

Hokies set to wrap up nonconference action against Grambling State on Saturday

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Grambling State (6-3)
vs. Virginia Tech (10-1)
December 17, 2022
Cassell Coliseum
4:00 p.m. ET
RSN
Virginia Tech Sports Network

BLACKSBURG – Before Virginia Tech jumps into conference play for the remainder of the regular season, the Hokies welcome a formidable foe in Grambling State into Cassell Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. Dean Linke and Mike Gminski will be on the call for RSN for the 4 p.m. tipoff, while Evan Hughes and Mike Burnop provide coverage for the Virginia Tech Sports Network.

Saturday's contest will mark Virginia Tech's last game in Cassell during the 2022 calendar year. The matchup will serve as Hokie Kids' Club Day, The Kids' Takeover Day and a faculty/staff appreciation game. Also, players will be available for postgame autographs. More details on all promotions can be found here. Tickets, starting as low as $10, can still be found here.
 

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SCOUTING THE TIGERS

  • Grambling State enters this matchup coming off its second Power-5 win of the season against Vanderbilt. Earlier in the year, the Tigers downed Colorado. This is the first time in program history that Grambling State has downed two Power-5 opponents in the same season.
  • The Tigers are led on the court by Carte'are Gordon, a redshirt junior forward from St. Louis, Mo. In eight starts this season, he's averaging 13.8 points and eight boards.
  • Grambling State flourishes on the defensive end. Overall, the Tigers' scoring defense (62.2) ranks 42nd in the country. They fall in the top 30 in both field-goal defense (13th) and 3-point defense (27th).

The Series

  • Virginia Tech defeated Grambling State, 87-52, in the lone other meeting between the two programs on Dec. 19, 2015 in Blacksburg. 
  • Justin Bibbs dropped in 31 points on 10 of 14 shooting to lead four Hokies in double-figure scoring. 
  • Tech forced Grambling into 24 turnovers that game, which led to a 24-12 advantage in points off turnovers. 
  • The Hokies will not be overlooking the Tigers, who have knocked off two Power Five teams on the season: Colorado and Vanderbilt. 
  • The Hokies will be seeking their first 11-1 start to a season since 2018-19. That year, Tech opened with a 14-1 ledger through its first 15 games. 

BACK IN THE TOP 25

  • On the strength of its five-game winning streak, Tech returned to the AP Top 25 on Monday. 
  • It's the Hokies' 86th appearance all-time in the AP Poll. 
  • Tech was last in the AP Poll at No. 25 in the final 2021 poll. 
  • The Hokies are 4-0 all-time as the 24th-ranked team. 
  • Tech is one of four ACC teams ranked this week. 

MVP IN BROOKLYN

  • Sean Pedulla was named MVP of the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational game between Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State. 
  • The sophomore point guard, who hails from Edmond, Oklahoma, tallied 16 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Cowboys. 
  • He has reached double-figure scoring in each of his first 11 games of the season. Pedulla is the first Hokie to do that since Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored double figures in his first 13 games of the 2018-19 season. 

UP NEXT

  • Virginia Tech will dive back into ACC competition at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21 against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.