Recap | Box Score

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Highlights | Box Score

The Hokies closed out 2008 with a 75-66 win against the charleston southern buccaneers in the North Charleston Coliseum. Tech used a well balanced scoring attack with 4 players in double figures to hold off the bucs. J.T. Thompson, in his third game of the season, had a career-high 15 points on 5 of 6 shooting (and 5 of 7 from the line). This proved to be critical since Victor Davila left the game with an ankle injury one minute into the game (he did not return – status for Sunday is unknown at this time). Along with J.T., the “Big 3″ all scored in double figures with Vasallo and Delaney leading the way with 16 points each, and Jeff Allen chipped in 11. Allen led the Hokies in rebounds with 8 and blocks with 3, while Delaney was our assist leader tonight with 6.

Tech shot very well, hitting 7 of 18 from behind the arc (39%), 47% from the field, and 75% from the line.  The problem was csu was even hotter from long range, hitting 11 of 23 threes.  csu also limited the Hokies to just 7 offensive rebounds.  The difference in the game was VT’s ability to get to the line, getting 24 free throw attempts (making 18) to just six for the bucs (hitting 5). 

Another huge positive in this game was Tech’s lack of turnovers.  The Hokies had a season low of just 6 turnovers.  This was just the second time all season VT has had fewer than 10 turnovers and the Hokies had at least 15 turnovers in each of their last five games before this contest.  No player had more than one turnover and Delaney had a 6 to 1 assist to turnover ratio.

The first half was filled with several runs by each team. The Hokies jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first 2+ minutes, and then the buccaneers went on a 9-0 run. After a bucket by Cheick Diakite at the 14:54 mark, the bucs went on a 12-6 run to take their biggest lead of the game with 10:46 left in the first half: 23-15. Tech successfully turned things around by increasing the intensity on defense as the 1-3-1 zone forced turnovers and poor shot selection. In addition, the Hokies did a better job penetrating and finding the open look on the offensive end. This triggered a 22-5 Hokies run to finish the half up 9, 37-28.

While the first half swung back and forth like a pendulum, the Hokies’ lead in the second half hovered between 3 and 6 points most of the way. The bucs did get within one point at the 9:55 mark, but Tech quickly answered with a three and charleston southern never got any closer.

The bucs were led by Jamarco Warren, who Niemo highlighted in his preview as the offensive player to watch. Warren shot lights out from 3 point range. At one point he was 6 of 10, but then finished the game with 2 missed desperation threes. Warren ended up as the game’s high scorer with 22 points. The big surprise of the night was center Giedrius Knysas. Knysas, who was averaging 3.6 points per game coming off the bench, scored 15 on 6 of 8 shooting. I’m sure Coach Greenberg will be lighting a fire under Diakite, Witcher, Allen, and Thompson in practice the rest of this week after that (lack of) defensive performance.

Next up is #5 duke in Cameron Indoor on Sunday. National TV, ACC opener. We will finally get to see what this team is made of.

Wick’s Final Thought:
This game scared me, especially since this season has progressed just like the last few Novembers and Decembers under the Greenberg era. The only thing missing is a disappointing loss to a mid-major. Correction, a mid-major that Tech should beat. I’m not referring to the butlers and xaviers of the world. Since Tech joined the ACC, the Hokies always trip up against one mid-major team that they should have easily beat (on paper):

• 2004-05: lost to vmi 71-68
• 2005-06: lost to bowling green 72-71
• 2006-07: lost to western michigan 71-68 and marshall 59-58
• 2007-08: lost to richmond 52-49

Whew.

Barring a loss at home to richmond on Jan. 14th (revenge game, Hokies), Tech might actually avoid this dubious feat for the first time under Greenberg.

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