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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team will compete in the 12th Annual Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic, to be played at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on December 22 and 23, 2012.

The Hokies will open play in the event with a pair of home games, Dec. 10 against Mississippi Valley State and Dec. 15 against Georgia Southern. The Hokies will then travel to Las Vegas and play in the evening sessions on Dec. 22 and 23. The three other teams competing in the evening sessions will be Colorado State, Bradley and Portland. Along with MVSU and Georgia Southern, Cal. State Bakersfield and North Florida will participate in the afternoon sessions.

The Hokies are under the direction of first-year head coach James Johnson. Johnson will guide a team that will return three starters from last season, including second-team All-ACC selection Erick Green, who led the Hokies in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game. Also returning are starters, juniors Jarell Eddie (9.1 ppg) and Cadarian Raines (5.9 ppg. 3.9 rpg), along with sophomores C.J. Barksdale, Robert Brown and Marquis Rankin, who all saw considerable action in their freshmen seasons. Redshirt freshman Joey van Zegeren returns to action this year, after missing almost the entire 2011-12 season with injuries and freshman Marshall Wood joins the Hokies after an outstanding high school career in Rustburg, Va.

“We are extremely excited to take part in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic,” Johnson said. “This is a great opportunity for our program to play four good teams and travel to one of the top destinations in America. This tournament will test our team, while providing a great experience for our players.”

Each team will play four games, the first two at campus sites and the final two rounds at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on December 22 and 23. Tickets for the final rounds in Las Vegas can be purchased at the participating schools athletic ticket office or by calling the Box Office at the Orleans Arena (702) 284-7777.

For updates on Virginia Tech men's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_MBBall).