Dominant frontcourt performance leads Hokies past Georgia TechDominant frontcourt performance leads Hokies past Georgia Tech
Men's Basketball

Dominant frontcourt performance leads Hokies past Georgia Tech

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BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech received balanced inside scoring Saturday night, led by 18 points apiece from Lynn Kidd and Mylyjael Poteat to roll past Georgia Tech, 91-67, inside Cassell Coliseum. It was the Hokies' third straight ACC victory, which improved them to 10-1 at home this season.


The Hokies (13-7, 5-4) produced three other double-digit scorers in Robbie Beran (14), Hunter Cattoor (11) and Tyler Nickel (11). Sean Pedulla, who steadied the troops all game long, finished with nine points. MJ Collins added seven. VT shared the rock, compiling 23 assists on 32 field goals made. The Hokies also won the battle on the glass, 37-31.


Pedulla knocked down back-to-back deep 3-pointers early in the second half to halt the Georgia Tech attack. The Yellow Jackets (9-11, 2-7) led for no longer than 44 seconds in the road defeat.

GT's Baye Ndongo led the visitors with 16 points and nine rebounds, doing most of his damage in the paint. Miles Kelly added 11.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Hokies got started behind Collins with a step-back jump shot two minutes in. Kidd followed with an and-1 layup to tie the game at 5. Back-to-back Poteat layups gave Tech an early 12-5 lead.
  • Nickel's first basket, a 3-pointer, followed by a Beran layup gave the Hokies a 20-10 advantage. A little over 11 minutes remained in the half. 
  • Cattoor, getting into the scoring column with a 3-pointer, extended the lead to 13. Another Cattoor 3-pointer followed by two Kidd layups put Tech up 34-18. Georgia Tech called a timeout with a little under six minutes to go.
  • Poteat, igniting the crowd with a layup and two blocks, grew the lead to 21 at 40-19. Tech was up 44-28 at the break.
  • Kidd's basket opened the scoring a minute into the second half. He followed with a dunk two minutes later, stretching the lead back to 15. Beran's dunk made the score 54-39 with 16 minutes left in the game.
  • Nickel's second deep ball set the Hokie lead back to 15. After a scoring drought, Beran knocked down two free throws to move the lead back up to double digits at 11.
  • Pedulla's 3-pointer made the score 67-57 at the under-eight timeout. Cattoor's third deep ball of the game made the score 73-57 and forced another Georgia Tech timeout.
  • Beran's first 3-pointer gave him 11 for the game and lengthened the lead to 18. John Camden's 3-pointer and rebound capped the Tech victory. Virginia Tech defeated Georgia Tech 91-67.

Gallery: (1-27-2024) MBB: Georgia Tech Game
NOTES

  • Tonight's win avenged the Hokies' loss to the Yellow Jackets in their lone matchup last season (77-70).
  • Virginia Tech now has a 23-9 lead in the all-time series against Georgia Tech. The Hokies have now won nine of the last 12 meetings.
  • Virginia Tech is 12-2 against GT all-time in Blacksburg.
  • The Hokies shot an efficient 55% from the field and 44% from 3-point range in the triumph tonight.
  • VT's largest lead of the game was 24 points.
  • Mylyjael Poteat's 18 points tied a career high. He scored 18 against UAB on Jan. 8, 2022 when he was a sophomore at Rice.
  • Tech's frontcourt poured in 50 points tonight in the win.


UP NEXT

  • Tech returns to Cassell Coliseum for their third of a three-game homestand Monday at 7 p.m. against Duke. The Hokies will be looking for their fourth straight win as the 12th-ranked Blue Devils visit Blacksburg for Big Monday on ESPN. Dave O'Brien (play-by-play), Cory Alexander (analyst) and Angel Gray (sideline) have the call.