Hokie ClubCHARLOTTE, N.C. – A back and forth affair, Virginia Tech (1-1) fell just short to South Carolina (2-0) 79-77 on Friday night at the Spectrum Center as part of the He Gets Us Hall of Fame Charlotte series.
Shooting 50% from the field as a team, Tech's hot shooting was not enough. Though both teams scored 36 points in the paint, the Gamecocks scored nine more from behind the 3-point line.
Sean Pedulla led all players with career highs in points (26) and rebounds (nine). Hunter Cattoor and Lynn Kidd also chipped in double-digit scoring performances, scoring 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Myles Stute led five Gamecocks in double-figure scoring behind a team-high 21 points on 7 of 11 shooting.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Pedulla opened the scoring with a mid-range jump shot. Kidd followed with an offensive rebound and putback layup on the next possession. Kidd and Cattoor both picked up two early rebounds.
- Cattoor made a deep 3-pointer immediately followed by a Pedulla transition layup. Tech was up 13-8 with 16 minutes to go in the first half. Both teams shot above 45% from the field with 11 minutes to go.
- Tech went over five minutes without a made basket. South Carolina was up 22-15 at the eight minute mark. Kidd broke the scoring drought with his second basket of the game.
- With seven points off the bench, Mylyjael Poteat put the Hokies within five points. South Carolina was up 38-31 at halftime, shooting 58% from the field in the first half.
- Three minutes into the second half, Kidd spun baseline for a dunk. Pedulla followed that with a 3-pointer to put Tech within three points. A Cattoor 3-pointer and a Mekhi Long layup put Tech down two, 48-46.
- Four points from Pedulla, giving him 17 for the game, put the Hokies back within three points. Eight minutes remained. With a layup and 3-pointer, Cattoor tied the game at 67-67.
- With a little over three minutes left in the game, Pedulla gave Tech the lead 72-69 on three free throws. Assisted by Pedulla, Poteat tied the game at 77-77 with just under a minute to go.
- Not getting up a shot on their final possession, the Hokies came up short as South Carolina held on, 79-77.
NOTES
- Sean Pedulla scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
- With three against South Carolina, Hunter Cattoor is now tied with Wally Lancaster for third on Virginia Tech's all-time 3-pointers made list at 257.
- The Hokies dropped to 13-19 all-time against South Carolina, meeting tonight for the first time since 1997.
- Tech did a nice job taking care of the ball, only committing five turnovers.
- Tech head coach Mike Young is now 5-1 in his career against South Carolina's head coach Lamont Paris.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies return to Blacksburg for Wednesday's nonconference tilt with Campbell. The game, which tips at 6 p.m. ET, will serve as Military Appreciation Night.
Gallery: (11-10-2023) MBB: South Carolina Game