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Hokies ride strong night from the field to win over VMI
Zach LeDay records double-double in 88-72 victory
November 19, 2016
| 1 | 2 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|
 VMI (1-2) | 34 | 38 | 72 |
 Virginia Tech (3-0) | 44 | 44 | 88 |
| |||
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech defeated VMI, 88-72, in men’s college basketball action Saturday night in Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies improve to 3-0 on the season, while the Keydets fall to 1-2.
The game was close throughout most of the first half, before the Hokies went on a 15-6 run in the final five and a half minutes. Tech took a 44-34 lead into the intermission.
“I thought we were much more purposeful in our dribbles and passes in the second half with the pace that we want to play with,” Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams said. “I know we shot 57 percent in the first half, but some of our turnovers were a little careless. Too many of our shots were good instead of great or perfect. I thought we changed that for the better in the second half.”
Tech opened the second half on a 13-7 run, spurred by a pair of three-pointers by Justin Bibbs and eventually took a 69-49 lead with 11:55 remaining on a dunk by Zach LeDay. VMI then went on a 10-0 run over the next three and a half minutes to cut the lead to 10 points, but could get no closer and the Hokies took the victory, 88-72.
LeDay led four Hokies in double figures, with 23 points and 12 rebounds, for his second double-double of the season. Seth Allen added 15 points and five assists and Justin Bibbs and Chris Clarke added 13 points each. QJ Peterson led all scorers with 29 points and Adrian Rich and Trey Chapman added 10 points each for the Keydets in the loss.
Tech shot 56.7 percent from the field in the first half and improved upon that with a 16 of 25 performance in the second half, for 64.0 percent. Tech was 33 of 55 from the floor in the game, good for 60.0 percent, including seven of 17 from three-point range, for 41.2 percent. The Hokies out rebounded VMI, 34-28 and dished out 19 assists on the 33 made baskets.
This was the final of three consecutive home games to open the season for the Hokies. Tech now embarks of a 10 day, four game road trip to the Wooden Legacy in Southern California and a road game at Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Competition on the trip begins with a 4:30 p.m. ET game on Thanksgiving Day against New Mexico in the opening round of the Wooden Legacy in Fullerton, California.
OF NOTE
Prior to tonight’s game, the Hokies honored the memory of Dr. T. Marshall Hahn. Dr. Hahn was the university’s president from 1962-74, and transformed the school into the institution that it is today. During his tenure, Hahn used athletics to bring national exposure to the university. He oversaw the finishing of the building of Cassell Coliseum and the construction of Lane Stadium.
For updates on Virginia Tech men's basketball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_MBBall
