Hokie ClubNASSAU, THE BAHAMAS - The Virginia Tech men's basketball team suffered its first defeat of the season Friday at the hands of the Saint Mary's Gaels, another team who is receiving votes in the AP Poll. The Gaels led wire to wire, walking off with a 77-66 victory. For Tech, who falls to 6-1 on the season, it sets up a matchup with in-state foe VCU in the third place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
It was another slow start for the Hokies, who found themselves down 10-2 at the first media as none of their outside shots (five) fell and the Gaels hit the glass owning eight of the ten in the game. Saint Mary's extended the lead further throughout the first half as the Hokies faced a double digit deficit for the first time this season.
Once the Hokies got a foothold, they were able to chip away as Ben Hammond, who started in place of Tobi Lawal (day to day lower body) buoyed the team with some buckets, including the first triple of the game on the Hokies' thirteenth attempt of the game.
At the break, Tech trailed 31-20 after shooting 21.2% from the field and making just one of 15 3-pointers. They were also outrebounded 23-16.
In the seond half, the Hokies made several pushes to close the gap, a Tyler Johnson 3-pointer cut the lead to four midway through the period, but that would prove to be the closest that Tech would come.
The Hokies were led by Amani Hansberry who recorded his third double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jaden Schutt connected on four of the Hokies' seven made 3's in the game as he recorded 17 points, his season high.
UP NEXT
Tech will play in the third place game on Friday, November 28 at 10:30 a.m. against VCU. That game will be televised on ESPN2.