BLACKSBURG – The Hokies utilized a dominant game in the paint and another impressive Justyn Mutts showing to defeat No. 18 North Carolina, 80-72, on Sunday.
JUSTYN MUTTS: GLUE GUY
- Mutts continues to prove himself as one of the ACC's most valuable players, as he put together his sixth-consecutive game in double figures with a season-high 27 points. The six-game streak of double-figure scoring ties Mutts' career best, which he set in the final six games of the 2019-20 season (at Delaware).
- The Millville, N.J. native had 21 of his 27 points in the second half, shooting 9-10 from the floor in the final 20 minutes.
- Mutts is no stranger to breakout halves against the Tar Heels. In fact, his three highest scoring halves of his career have all come against North Carolina: 21 (Second, Dec. 4, 2022), 16 (Second, Jan. 24, 2022), 14 (First, March 11, 2021).
- Hailing from the "sprawling metropolis" of Clover, S.C., MJ Collins had the best outing of his young career on Sunday with eight points and eight boards.
- The most impressive part of Collins' stat line had to be his five offensive rebounds, which topped the entire Tar Heels tally of four.
- Collins sent Cassell Coliseum into a frenzy towards the end of the first half when he threw down a ferocious slam that came from a Grant Basile steal.
PARTY IN THE PAINT
- The Hokies dominated the paint with 42 points, which is the most by Tech in an ACC contest since it put up 56 against NC State on Feb. 7, 2018.
- Virginia Tech has scored 40+ points in the paint for five-straight games and six times total this season.
- Tech won the battle on the boards convincingly, as well, with a +14 rebounding margin.